Missing California teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez identified as body found in D4vd’s Tesla

Highlights:

• The body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, missing from Lake Elsinore, California since April 2024, was discovered in a car registered to singer D4vd.
• The Tesla had been impounded in Los Angeles; workers alerted police after noticing a foul odor.
• Forensic testing confirmed the identity of Hernandez, who was 13 at the time of her disappearance.
• D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, has not been charged and is cooperating with authorities.
• Reports link Hernandez to the singer through a matching tattoo and a leaked track titled “Celeste.”
• Following the discovery, singer Kali Uchis pulled her collaboration with D4vd from release.

Authorities have confirmed that the dismembered body found earlier this month in a Tesla registered to singer D4vd belongs to missing California teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The 15-year-old had been missing for nearly 18 months.

Discovery of the body

The car, a Tesla with Texas plates, had been abandoned for five days before being towed from Los Angeles’ upscale Bird Streets neighborhood to Hollywood Tow on Mansfield Avenue.

On September 8, lot workers reported a strong odor from the vehicle. Police found human remains, including a torso and head, inside a bag in the trunk.

Due to advanced decomposition, the gender could not be confirmed at the scene. Forensic testing later identified the remains as Hernandez.

Victim’s disappearance

Hernandez disappeared in April 2024 at the age of 13. She was last seen leaving her home around 9 p.m. wearing Hello Kitty sandals, gray pants, a black sweater, and a hat. Police issued appeals for information at the time.

Connection to D4vd

The vehicle was registered to 20-year-old singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd. His spokesperson said the artist was notified and is “fully cooperating with authorities” while continuing his tour.

According to media reports, Hernandez and D4vd shared a matching “Shhh…” tattoo on their right index fingers. TMZ also reported that Hernandez’s mother said her daughter had been dating someone named David.

In addition, a track titled “Celeste”, credited to D4vd, surfaced on SoundCloud in 2023.

No charges have been filed against the singer, and the cause of Hernandez’s death has not yet been released.

Industry reaction

Following the news, Grammy-winning singer Kali Uchis announced she would withdraw her collaborative track “Crashing” with D4vd, which appeared on his debut album Withered.

In a social media post, Uchis clarified: “Not my friend — I did a song with him which is currently in the process of being taken down given today’s disturbing news.”

Ongoing investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration is not involved, but the Los Angeles Police Department and county authorities are leading the investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board is not connected to this case.

As of now, the Los Angeles Police Department has not announced any arrests. The case remains under active investigation.