When the dismembered body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in a Tesla at a Los Angeles tow yard in mid-September 2025, authorities initially treated it as an unexplained death. But by November 19, 2025, the case had turned into a full-blown homicide investigation — and D4vd, the 20-year-old rising R&B star, was being considered a suspect. The vehicle had been towed from a street one block from his rented home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. He wasn’t there at the time — he was on tour. But now, investigators say, the timeline, location, and circumstances point to him.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
On September 19, 2025, workers at a private tow facility in southeast Los Angeles noticed something unusual inside a dark gray Tesla Model S. Inside the trunk, wrapped in heavy-duty plastic and sealed with industrial tape, were human remains — dismembered, carefully arranged, and showing signs of postmortem processing. The car had been abandoned after a parking violation, and the owner hadn’t reclaimed it in over six weeks. When police opened the trunk, they found fragments of bone, tissue, and clothing that quickly matched Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s dental records and medical history. She’d been reported missing by her family on September 2, 2025, after she failed to show up for school and didn’t answer her phone for three days.
At first, detectives thought it might be a botched drug deal or a gang-related killing. But the precision of the dismemberment — clean cuts, no signs of struggle on the bones — suggested someone with anatomical knowledge. And then came the Tesla’s GPS data. It showed the car had been driven from the Hollywood Hills rental to the tow yard on September 1, 2025, at 3:17 a.m. — a time when D4vd was confirmed to be performing at a sold-out show in Phoenix, Arizona, according to venue records and fan videos.
Who Is D4vd? And Why Is He a Suspect?
D4vd — real name David, as confirmed by his publicist — is a 20-year-old artist from Los Angeles who exploded onto the scene in 2023 with his moody, synth-heavy R&B tracks. His song "Bury Me Alive" went viral on TikTok, landing him opening slots for major acts like The Weeknd and Olivia Rodrigo. He’s known for his quiet demeanor, late-night studio sessions, and a circle of friends described by insiders as "intense, private, and protective."
According to KTLA 5 journalist Mary Beth McDade, who broke the story live on November 19, 2025, anonymous law enforcement sources confirmed D4vd is now a person of interest. "He’s being considered a suspect in Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death," McDade stated, referencing a source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The same source added: "New reports are surfacing that the singer may have had help disposing of her body."
Why? Investigators found that D4vd had been in contact with Celeste via Instagram DMs in the weeks before her disappearance. She’d posted selfies with him at a downtown LA café on August 15, 2025. Her mother told police Celeste had been "obsessed" with him, even writing in her journal: "I think he sees me. He really sees me."
But the real red flag came from TMZ’s reporting, cited by KTLA: In April 2025 — during the spring window of March 20 to June 20 — D4vd allegedly drove alone to a remote canyon in Santa Barbara County, arriving at 2:45 a.m. and staying for nearly five hours. No one saw him. No cell tower pings. No security footage. Just a Tesla parked off a dirt road, surrounded by scrub brush. When questioned, his driver said he was "working on new music." But investigators now believe he may have been burying or moving evidence. The term "mysterious triptych" used in the report remains unexplained — it may be a misstatement, or perhaps a reference to three items he carried: a tool kit, a bag, and a hard drive.
What Happened After the Body Was Found?
For nearly two months, the case sat cold. No arrests. No public statements from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Then, on November 19, 2025, everything shifted. KTLA’s report confirmed the homicide classification — a legal reclassification that requires forensic review and prosecutorial approval. That means detectives now have probable cause to seek an arrest warrant.
They’re now analyzing D4vd’s phone records from August 25 to September 3, 2025, looking for communication with anyone who might have helped move the body. They’re also reviewing security footage from the rental property, which shows a black SUV — unregistered to D4vd — parked across the street the night before the Tesla was towed. The vehicle’s plates were obscured, but the make and model match a 2023 Ford Expedition, the same type owned by D4vd’s personal assistant, a 28-year-old man named Marcus Delgado, who has since left the country.
Delgado’s whereabouts are unknown. He reportedly boarded a flight to Mexico City on October 5, 2025, using a passport under a different name. Authorities have issued an international alert.
The Bigger Picture: Fame, Isolation, and the Dark Side of the Music Industry
This isn’t just a murder case. It’s a chilling reflection of how fame can isolate even the youngest stars. D4vd grew up in a single-parent home in South LA, raised by his grandmother after his father died in a car crash when he was 10. He was homeschooled, introverted, and found solace in music. His rise was meteoric — but so was the pressure. He’s spoken in interviews about "feeling like a ghost in my own life."
Experts say cases like this often involve a dangerous mix of emotional vulnerability, unchecked access, and a lack of oversight. Celeste, a high school sophomore with no criminal record, was likely drawn to D4vd’s online persona — the quiet, artistic boy who seemed to understand her. He may have offered attention. Validation. Maybe even a sense of belonging.
But when things went wrong — whether she threatened to go public, became emotionally demanding, or simply became inconvenient — the response may have been catastrophic. The dismemberment suggests not just violence, but a cold, calculated effort to erase her. And the involvement of another person? That points to a network, not a lone act.
What’s Next?
As of November 20, 2025, D4vd has not been arrested. He’s reportedly in a studio in Atlanta, working on his debut album. His publicist released a brief statement: "David is cooperating fully with authorities and is devastated by this tragedy. He has no information about what happened to Celeste."
But investigators aren’t buying it. A warrant for his phone and laptop has been approved. A grand jury is expected to convene by December 1, 2025. And if Delgado is found, prosecutors may offer him immunity in exchange for testimony against D4vd.
The Tesla? It’s still in evidence. Forensic teams are scanning every inch of the interior for trace DNA, hair, fibers — anything that might link someone else to the scene. And if they find it? That could change everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did investigators link D4vd to the Tesla?
The Tesla was registered to D4vd’s legal name, which was confirmed through DMV records and a rental agreement tied to his Hollywood Hills residence. GPS logs showed the car was driven from his rental home to the tow yard on September 1, 2025, at 3:17 a.m. — a time he was confirmed to be on tour in Phoenix. But the car was not driven by him that night, raising questions about who had access to his keys or vehicle.
Why is the Santa Barbara County trip significant?
The April 2025 trip to a remote canyon in Santa Barbara County occurred just months before Celeste’s disappearance. D4vd was alone, untracked, and stayed for five hours with no known purpose. Investigators believe he may have buried or moved evidence then — possibly items linked to Celeste. The term "triptych" may refer to three objects: a tool kit, a bag of personal effects, and a digital storage device — all of which remain missing.
Could D4vd be framed?
It’s possible, but unlikely. The vehicle was his, the timing aligns with Celeste’s last known movements, and the dismemberment suggests a level of premeditation. The bigger question is whether someone else helped — possibly his assistant, Marcus Delgado, who fled the country. If Delgado is found, he may provide evidence that shifts blame or confirms D4vd’s involvement.
What’s the likelihood of charges being filed?
Charges are highly likely by early December 2025. The homicide reclassification means prosecutors have met the probable cause threshold. With forensic evidence from the Tesla, digital records, and a suspect who fled the country, authorities are building a strong case. Even without a confession, circumstantial evidence — including the victim’s last known interactions and the vehicle’s movement — could be enough for an indictment.
Is this case connected to other celebrity crimes?
There are parallels to the 2019 case involving rapper XXXTentacion, whose death sparked a wave of investigations into fan interactions and mental health. But this is different: the victim is a minor, the method is unusually surgical, and the suspect is not yet a superstar — making this a rare case where fame hasn’t yet shielded the accused from scrutiny. It may become a landmark in how law enforcement handles celebrity-teen relationships.
What’s being done to protect other teens from similar situations?
California lawmakers are drafting a bill called "The Celeste Act," which would require music platforms and social media companies to flag and report suspicious interactions between adult artists and minors under 16. It would also mandate that tour managers and publicists undergo background checks and mandatory training on youth safety. The bill is expected to be introduced in January 2026.
