The Celeste Rivas Hernandez Case | Runaway Found Dead in Tesla Trunk

Celeste Rivas was not pregnant at the time of her death, according to her death certificate.

The certificate, obtained by TMZ, does not yet specify the teen’s cause of death. Los Angeles Police Department Captain and Commanding Officer Scot Williams informed the outlet that law enforcement is collaborating with the medical examiner’s office.

As previously reported by CrimeOnline, Los Angeles police discovered her body on September 8, inside a Tesla owned by singer D4vd, known in real life as David Anthony Burke.

Police located the car at a tow yard in Hollywood after neighbors near Burke’s Hollywood Hills rental property alerted authorities to an abandoned vehicle with a Texas license plate on September 6.

The car had been in the lot for several days before the police made the discovery. Authorities stated that Celeste’s body had been dismembered, placed in a bag, and left in the front trunk.

They found her just one day after she turned 15, “severely decomposed,” meaning she likely died at age 14.

Although her manner of death is recorded as a homicide, it remains uncertain whether it resulted from foul play or a possible drug overdose. Investigators are awaiting a toxicology report.

Toxicology reports can take several months, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Her death came after the teen fled her home earlier this year, allegedly to be with Burke, although police have not confirmed this information.

“As far as their relationship, it would be premature for me to say anything,” Williams told People Magazine earlier this month. “We are looking into everything.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, Celeste’s family had reported her missing at least three times in the past year. During one instance, police brought her back home and during another instance, she returned home voluntarily.

So far, Burke has not been arrested or named as a suspect. Police initially said he had been cooperating with the investigation, but he has since retained an attorney.

Meanwhile, Damien Hernandez, 15, who identified himself as Celeste’s ex-boyfriend, told TMZ that she came from a troubled home life and that her mother didn’t treat her well.

Hernandez reportedly said that Celeste had been “looking for something serious” during their time at a middle school in Lake Elsinore.

He also revealed that Celeste often talked about running away and that he knew of an alleged relationship with Burke, but that “no one cared.”

“Like, no one cared. I don’t know, I should have done something,” he said.

Check back for updates.

[Feature Photo: d4vd arrives at the Streamy Awards on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)]

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