Los Angeles law enforcement has prevented the county coroner’s office from disclosing information regarding the death of a teenage girl discovered in the trunk of a vehicle registered to the artist known as d4vd, as confirmed by the medical examiner’s office on Monday.
The deceased, identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was found on September 8 inside an impounded Tesla in Los Angeles shortly after turning 15. Multiple media sources indicated that the vehicle was linked to d4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, aged 20.
A statement from the medical examiner’s office revealed that a “security hold” has been placed on the case of Rivas Hernandez following a court order initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). This order, issued on Friday, directs that no information, including the cause of death and the Medical Examiner report, be made public until further notice.
Speculation arose after various Los Angeles TV stations suggested that the singer, originally from Houston and known for his alternative-pop music, is considered a suspect by the police, although this has not been officially confirmed. LAPD Captain Mike Bland clarified that the security hold was not intended to obscure transparency but rather to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing police investigation conducted by the robbery homicide division.
Chief medical examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo remarked that such security holds are uncommon in other California counties and emphasized the office’s commitment to transparency within legal constraints.
Rivas Hernandez, who was last seen in April 2024 in her hometown of Lake Elsinore, approximately 95 kilometers southeast of downtown Los Angeles, was found in a state of advanced decomposition, suggesting she had been in the vehicle for a considerable period before discovery.
D4vd, known for his unique mix of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop, rose to fame with the TikTok hit “Romantic Homicide” in 2022, which reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. His subsequent EP releases, including “Petals to Thorns” and “The Lost Petals,” garnered him a loyal Gen Z following. The artist’s tour for his debut album, “Withered,” was interrupted following the grim discovery of Rivas Hernandez’s body, leading to the cancellation of remaining shows in North America and Europe.
