D4vd Among Suspects in Death of 15-Year-Old Celeste Rivas-Hernandez, Investigators Say

When the decomposed remains of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas-Hernandez were found inside the trunk of a Tesla in a Los Angeles tow yard in mid-September 2025, no one expected the suspect to be a rising pop star. But now, investigators say D4vd — the 19-year-old musician whose real name is David — is among the primary figures in a chilling case that has stunned fans and law enforcement alike. The body, severely dismembered and badly decomposed, had been hidden for months. Her family hadn’t heard from her since a final phone call in late May 2025. Now, with property records showing D4vd transferred his Cypress, Texas home to his mother just six days after a fake SWAT call at that same residence, the pieces are starting to connect — and they point to something far darker than anyone imagined.

From Missing Teen to Grisly Discovery

Lake Elsinore, a quiet city of about 70,000 in Riverside County, California, was where Celeste grew up. She was known among friends as bright but troubled — a teenager who’d run away multiple times before, always returning home. Her final disappearance in April 2024 wasn’t treated as unusual at first. But when she vanished again in April 2025 and didn’t come back, her family grew frantic. By late May, the calls stopped. No texts. No social media. Just silence.

Then, on September 15, 2025, a tow yard in Los Angeles County flagged an unusual vehicle: a Tesla Model S, parked for over six months, its trunk locked and emitting a foul odor. When deputies opened it, they found human remains. The coroner’s office confirmed the body was female, teenage, and had been dismembered — likely after death. The car, registered under D4vd’s name, had been impounded after a traffic stop in July 2025. No one had claimed it. Not until now.

Connections to D4vd: A Trail of Evidence

Investigators quickly traced the car’s owner to D4vd, whose real name is David. His parents live in a gated community in Cypress, Texas, part of the Houston metro area. On September 23, 2025 — just six days after deputies responded to a suspicious swatting call at that same home — D4vd transferred full ownership of the property to his mother. The deed was recorded the same day. It’s not illegal. But in the context of this case? It’s suspicious.

"No one has been excluded," one law enforcement source told ABC News. "But we believe D4vd played a role in her death and got help from others in trying to dispose of her body." The Tesla, they say, wasn’t just a vehicle — it was a mobile evidence locker. Cell phone records show D4vd was in Southern California during the last known weeks of Celeste’s life. Financial records reveal multiple cash withdrawals in late May 2025, shortly after her last call. And telemetry from the Tesla shows it was driven to remote areas near Malibu in early June — areas where bodies have been found before.

Who Else Might Be Involved?

The investigation is not focused solely on D4vd. Sources confirm that at least three other individuals are being actively examined — including a 21-year-old acquaintance who lived near D4vd’s Texas home and reportedly had access to the Tesla in May. Another suspect, a local artist connected to D4vd’s music circle, was seen near the tow yard the week before the car was flagged. One investigator, speaking anonymously, said: "We’re looking at a network. This wasn’t one person acting alone. There was coordination. Planning. Cover-up."

Meanwhile, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department continues to lead the missing person investigation, while the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department handles the homicide inquiry. The two agencies are sharing digital forensics — including D4vd’s encrypted phone data, which reportedly contains deleted messages referencing "cleanup" and "no trace." The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has yet to determine whether Celeste died from trauma, overdose, or natural causes before being dismembered. That report, expected by early December, could shift the entire case.

Why This Case Matters

This isn’t just about a celebrity. It’s about what happens when a vulnerable teen disappears in plain sight. Celeste had been reported missing multiple times before. Each time, she returned. Authorities didn’t escalate. Her family begged for help. No one listened — until it was too late. Now, the system is being questioned. How many other teens like her have slipped through the cracks? How many families are still waiting for answers?

The timing of the property transfer, the fake SWAT call, the silence after May — these aren’t coincidences. They’re patterns. And they suggest someone knew they were being watched. Someone knew the body would be found eventually. And someone wanted to make sure the trail went cold.

What Happens Next?

Law enforcement sources say formal charges could come "within days to two weeks." There’s no rush, they insist — but there’s urgency. Investigators are still analyzing audio from the Tesla’s internal mic, which may have captured voices during the transport of the body. They’re also reviewing surveillance footage from gas stations near Malibu, where the car was last seen moving.

For now, D4vd remains free. No arrest warrant has been issued. His publicist has not responded to requests for comment. But the music world is holding its breath. His latest album, released just weeks before Celeste’s body was found, has been pulled from streaming services. Fans are stunned. Some are angry. Others are mourning — not just for Celeste, but for the illusion that fame protects you from accountability.