Authorities are under increasing pressure to clarify why singer D4vd has not been detained after the dismembered body of a teenager was found earlier this month in a Tesla registered under his name.
The remains, determined to belong to 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, were discovered wrapped in a bag in the car’s front trunk at a Hollywood impound lot on September 8.
The car had never been reported stolen.
Rivas, who had been missing for more than a year, reportedly shared a matching tattoo with D4vd.
Her mother told investigators her daughter’s boyfriend was allegedly named David.
The 19-year-old artist, famous for his hit song Romantic Homicide, initially continued his tour but has since canceled his upcoming performances.
Police also raided a home connected to him.
Despite those apparent ties, D4vd has not been named a suspect.
Amid the public’s confusion, legal experts explained to the Daily Mail that the situation is not unusual — and it largely comes down to the autopsy.
Authorities face scrutiny over the lack of arrest of singer D4vd after a dismembered body was discovered in a car registered to him; pictured 2025.
‘It’s common practice to wait for the medical examiner to confirm a homicide before pressing charges,’ explained Kevin Angelo Brown, criminologist and professor at Arkansas State University. ‘For instance, if the death is deemed natural or a suicide, different charges might apply.’
Brown highlighted that while moving a body in this manner could result in charges like obstruction of justice or improper disposal of a body, murder charges require forensic proof.
Yosi Yahoudai, co-founder and managing partner at &Y Law, echoed that point.
‘The reason D4vd hasn’t been arrested yet likely comes down to the autopsy,’ Yahoudai explained. ‘Until the cause and manner of death are confirmed, police can’t legally call this a homicide. Without that, naming suspects or making arrests becomes risky. It’s standard practice when human remains are decomposed, law enforcement needs to wait on forensic confirmation before they can move forward.’
According to Brown, time also complicates matters.
‘For homicides where the body is found significantly after the time of death, it can take longer to get enough evidence to make an arrest,’ he said. ‘The perpetrators have had plenty of time to get rid of evidence. It often takes longer than in cases where the crime is still “hot” and authorities are actively searching for a suspect who just committed the act.’
Police are believed to be gathering forensic evidence from the vehicle and from items seized in the raid, including potential electronics.
Investigators are likely testing for DNA, fingerprints, digital communications, and physical traces such as blood.
Brown said narrowing down the date of Rivas’ death will be critical to ruling suspects in or out, as it could establish an alibi or a direct link to D4vd.
At this stage, experts say most of what authorities have is circumstantial.
The matching tattoo, a rumored romantic relationship and an unreleased song referencing ‘Celeste’ raise suspicions, but are not evidence of murder.
The remains, later identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, were found stuffed in a bag in the car’s front trunk at a Hollywood impound lot on September 8
D4vd has not been named a suspect, a move legal experts told The Daily Mail that’s not unusual
‘A car linked to him, a shared tattoo, a song mentioning Celeste — at the least, it can be argued these indicate a troubling pattern. But none of that, on its own, proves involvement in a crime,’ Yahoudai said. ‘Prosecutors need hard evidence like DNA, phone records, witness testimony, surveillance footage. Otherwise, all they have is a story. That won’t hold up.’
Still, Brown suggested that lyrics and imagery in D4vd’s music videos could be scrutinized if the case reaches trial.
He pointed to the video for One More Dance, which shows a body being dragged into a trunk, and Rehab, which depicts a girl’s arm being cut off.
He also noted D4vd’s unreleased track referencing a girl named Celeste.
While none of those elements alone prove guilt, experts say prosecutors often examine lyrics and videos to build a narrative, particularly when paired with digital evidence or witness testimony.
For now, D4vd’s cooperation appears to be working in his favor.
‘The medical examiner needs to confirm that this was a homicide before any official charges are filed,’ Kevin Angelo Brown, a professor at Arkansas State University, explained; seen in April
‘If he cooperates, it will certainly help in terms of public perception of his innocence, but it doesn’t protect him against being charged if they come up with the evidence,’ Yahoudai said. ‘Right now, we’re in the ‘gray area’ of a lot of suspicion, but not a lot of admissible proof. That’ll change quick once the forensics come back.’
Brown added that investigators may also be deliberately holding back.
‘Another reason why they might not have named a suspect right away is they do not want to tip the suspect off before having an arrest warrant,’ he said. ‘[They will also] purposely hold back accusing as a strategy to have one of the potential suspects to provide information to place them at the scene or to contradict themselves to late be used against them as this could lead to potential statements that would self-incriminate.’
As the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner works to confirm the cause and manner of Rivas’ death, experts caution that the case could shift quickly once forensic evidence is analyzed.
‘It would not surprise me if this case goes to trial and there is an arrest of D4vd,’ Brown said. ‘Especially if lyrics, circumstantial evidence, and forensic proof begin to line up.’
