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The Southern California community is grieving the loss of Celeste Rivas after the young girl’s body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla associated with R&B artist D4vd in Los Angeles.
On Sunday, September 21, a vigil was organized in Lake Elsinore, California, to honor her memory while authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, as reported by KABC.
What happened to missing teen Celeste Rivas?
The police probe started following the grim discovery of her decomposing remains in a Tesla registered to the singer, known legally as David Anthony Burke, a day after her 15th birthday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A spokesperson from the Los Angeles Police Department noted that the vehicle was impounded by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation after exceeding the 72-hour parking limit on a public street.
When taken to a Hollywood tow yard, a strong odor was detected by staff, prompting them to contact the authorities, who then discovered the remains inside the trunk and initiated a death investigation on September 8.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office later verified that the remains, found in a bag, belonged to Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a missing juvenile reported from Lake Elsinore in 2024, as NBC News reports.
The medical examiner has yet to determine a cause of death in the case. Authorities believe the girl may have been dead for some time before the remains were discovered.
Spokesperson says D4vd is “fully cooperating” with investigation
Police have not commented about what relationship, if any, the singer had to the teen. When news of the discovery broke D4vd was in the midst of a national tour promoting his debut album, Withered although the latest stops along the tour appear to be canceled.
A spokesperson for the singer previously told NBC News he was “fully cooperating with authorities” as the investigation continues.
Police recover “several items of evidence” in property search
Police told Oxygen a property in 13000 block of Doheny Place, which multiple media outlets have linked to D4vd, was searched on Sept. 17 by detectives from the robbery-homicide division.
Authorities confirmed the search was done “in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.”
“Several items of evidence were recovered and will be analyzed by detectives in the coming days,” the spokesperson told Oxygen. “This is an ongoing investigation. Investigators are following up on several leads.”
Vigil held for Celeste Rivas
The community gathered to remember the teen Sunday at a vigil in Lake Elsinore.
“This really hits home as a mom,” one mourner identified by KTLA only as Evelyn told the outlet. “This could have been anybody’s kid.”
Aubrey Domingo, who had once been a classmate of Rivas’ told the station she was shocked by the news of her death.
“I feel really bad for what happened to her because this story is really messed up,” she said. “I don’t even know what to say.”
