More than two months after 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body was discovered partially dismembered in a vehicle, new details now reveal her remains were reportedly found partially frozen.
The girl’s body was found on Sept. 8 after employees at Hollywood Tow noticed a strong odor coming from a Tesla SUV that had been sitting on the lot for five days. The vehicle had been reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills.
The Tesla, bearing Texas plates, was registered to 20-year-old R&B artist David Anthony Burke — known to millions of fans as D4vd.
TMZ reported that the teen’s decomposing body parts, including her head and torso, had been thawing in the car’s front trunk when workers made the gruesome discovery.
Celeste was reported missing in April 2024. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later confirmed her remains were found in the Tesla’s front trunk in September 2025.
A Grisly Scene in an Abandoned Tesla
Workers at the tow yard contacted authorities after the foul smell became overwhelming. Multiple images from the scene show detectives examining the SUV as it was seized as evidence.
Loved ones and community members held a vigil for Celeste in Lake Elsinore on Sept. 21, where mourners placed photos and candles in her memory.
Rising Artist Named as a Suspect
The Tesla had been originally parked on Bluebird Avenue, not far from a Hollywood Hills rental home where Burke had been staying. LAPD detectives later searched the home and removed several pieces of potential evidence.
On Nov. 18, LAPD sources told KTLA that Burke is now considered a suspect in the teen’s death.
Celeste had been missing from Lake Elsinore since April 2024, when she was just 13. A potential relationship between her and Burke is now a major focus of the investigation. Photos circulating online appear to show them together.
Her mother also told investigators that Celeste had a boyfriend named “David” when she vanished.
The pair reportedly had matching “Shhh” tattoos on their right index fingers. Friends within Burke’s circle allegedly believed Celeste was 19 years old.
After news of the discovery, Burke canceled his remaining U.S. and European tour dates and pulled back an album release. He is reportedly “not cooperating” with detectives and has issued no public statement about the case.
Investigators Believe More Than One Person May Be Involved
TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, reported that detectives are investigating whether another person may have helped dismember and dispose of the teen’s body.
“Based on the way Celeste’s body was dismembered, investigators believe it’s very likely whoever did this had help,” TMZ’s Charles Latibeaudiere told KTLA.
Authorities are also examining a late-night trip Burke allegedly made to a remote part of Santa Barbara County in spring 2025, where he spent several hours.
Investigators believe that trip “may be connected to whatever ended up happening to Celeste,” Latibeaudiere said.
Cause of Death May Be Hard to Determine
Celeste’s body was found the day after her 15th birthday, though the Medical Examiner believes she likely died weeks earlier.
Sources told TMZ that the frozen state of her decomposing remains could make it difficult to determine her exact cause of death.
Family and Community in Mourning
A funeral service was held in October at Queen of Heaven Cemetery & Mortuary in Rowland Heights, where family members carried the teen’s casket to her final resting place.
The Lake Elsinore Unified School District, where Celeste had attended middle school, released a statement saying:
“Our entire district community is deeply saddened by this loss, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her.”
No Arrests Yet
As of now, no arrests have been made. Any decision regarding charges will likely come after the Medical Examiner’s official autopsy report is released.
