Teen Girl's Cause of Death Undetermined After Found in Singer D4vd's Tesla

Identification of the Victim

The cause of death for a young girl who went missing in Lake Elsinore last year remains under investigation. Her decomposed body was discovered just one day after her 15th birthday in Hollywood, inside the trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to a popular singer. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner confirmed the identity of the girl as Celeste Rivas. She had been missing since before her 15th birthday and was found on September 8 in a vehicle that had been towed to a city police yard.

Background and Timeline

Celeste Rivas was last seen on April 5, 2024. According to a bulletin from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, she was born on September 7, 2010, and was referred to as Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The medical examiner's report listed the cause of death as deferred, meaning further investigation is needed to determine the exact reason for her passing.

The Tesla, which was registered to singer-songwriter David Anthony Burke, known by his stage name D4vd, had been parked in the Hollywood Hills for nearly a month. It was eventually towed to a city police yard located on North Mansfield Avenue. The vehicle was impounded because it had been left on a public street for more than 72 hours.

Discovery of the Body

Workers at the tow yard and neighbors reported a strong odor coming from the car, which led to the discovery of the remains. The body was found inside a bag in the trunk of the Tesla. According to reports, the remains were severely decomposed and dismembered. The medical examiner described the decedent as a woman with wavy black hair, unknown eye color, and a height of 5 feet 2 inches, weighing 71 pounds. She was wearing a tube top, size small black leggings, a yellow metal stud earring, and a metal chain bracelet.

Connection to the Singer

D4vd, who is currently on his U.S. "Withered" tour, is scheduled to perform at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday. His representative stated that the singer was informed of the discovery and is fully cooperating with investigators. TMZ reported that the singer canceled his Wednesday night show in Seattle, where he was set to perform at the Showbox SoDo. He was also scheduled to perform at San Francisco's Warfield Theater on Friday night and the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles next week.

Additional Details

According to TMZ, the girl's mother mentioned that her daughter's boyfriend, identified as "David," has a matching finger tattoo but in a different color. Earlier, the medical examiner revealed that the girl had the letters "Shhh" tattooed on her right index finger.

Neighbors told Rolling Stone that the Tesla Model Y had been moved several times over the past three months before it was found on Bluebird Avenue, where it was ultimately located. The car was believed to have been parked in the Hollywood Hills.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the girl's death. While the cause of death remains pending, the discovery of the body has raised many questions about what happened to Celeste Rivas during the time she was missing. As the case unfolds, more details are expected to come to light, and authorities will continue to work closely with the community and relevant parties to ensure justice is served.