The body of a missing teenage girl discovered decomposing in the trunk of singer D4vd's Tesla in Los Angeles earlier this month had likely been there for several weeks, police have said. Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was 13 when she disappeared, was found on 8 September, one day after her 15th birthday.
Los Angeles Police Department Captain Scot Williams told People magazine: 'We know that the Tesla had been parked at the location from which it was towed for several weeks, so it is very likely Celeste Rivas Hernandez had been dead for several weeks prior to her body being discovered.' The teenager was first reported missing on 5 April 2024.
The vehicle was ticketed in the Hollywood Hills neighbourhood on 3 September after exceeding the area’s three-day parking limit, with a parking enforcement officer first marking the car on 27 August. The car was towed on 5 September, and the body was discovered three days later after reports of a foul odour. Residents told local media the Tesla had been parked in the area for more than a month.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has yet to determine the cause or manner of death. Captain Williams added: 'We don’t know for sure if anyone has any criminal culpability for her death beyond the concealment of her dead body.' The robbery-homicide division is continuing its investigation.
D4vd (pronounced 'David'), a 20-year-old singer known for hits including Romantic Homicide, cancelled his scheduled performances at the Warfield and the Greek Theatre following the discovery. He and his manager had been staying at a rented property in the Hollywood Hills at the time.
