On September 17, 2025, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner delivered a devastating confirmation: the decomposing body found in the front trunk of a 2023 Tesla registered to alt-pop singer David Anthony Burke, known as d4vd, was that of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a Lake Elsinore teen missing since April 2024. The discovery, made in a Hollywood tow yard after a foul odor led police to the vehicle, has gripped the nation, sparking 300,000 posts on X under #CelesteRivas and #d4vd. Now, Celeste’s grieving family has broken their silence, issuing a heart-wrenching statement via a GoFundMe page: “She was a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend. Her family is heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss.” The words, penned by organizers Esmeralda Lozano and Gisel Vera, have ignited a wave of support, raising $10,000 for funeral costs, while fueling a firestorm of questions about how a vibrant teen ended up dismembered in a celebrity’s car.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), led by its elite Robbery-Homicide Division, is pursuing “several leads” in a case that’s as baffling as it is tragic. Celeste’s mother, speaking to TMZ, revealed chilling details: her daughter had a boyfriend named “David” and a “Shhhh…” tattoo matching one sported by d4vd, though the tattoo is common among celebrities like Rihanna. The Tesla, abandoned for days on Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills, was one of several vehicles owned by the 20-year-old singer, who was on his Withered world tour when the body was found. “D4vd is fully cooperating,” his representative told NBC News, but the family’s plea—coupled with eerie clues like the tattoo and the mother’s unverified claim—has turned this into a cultural and criminal mystery. Was Celeste’s death a tragic accident, a targeted act, or, as some X users speculate, a setup to frame a rising star? This is the story of a family’s unimaginable loss, a community’s cry for justice, and a case that’s unraveling under the spotlight of fame and grief.
A Family’s Grief: Celeste’s Light Extinguished
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, born in 2010, was just 13 when she vanished from Lake Elsinore, California, on April 5, 2024. Described as “vibrant” and “full of dreams” on her family’s GoFundMe page, she was a middle schooler with wavy black hair, standing 5’2” and weighing 71 pounds. Her disappearance wasn’t her first—she’d run away before, her mother told TMZ, painting a picture of a restless teen “searching for something.” A call home in May 2024 was the last contact, leaving her family clinging to hope for over a year. “We tried everything,” her mother said, her voice breaking in the TMZ interview. The family’s worst fears materialized when the medical examiner identified Celeste’s remains, found wrapped in plastic in the Tesla’s front trunk, or “frunk,” on September 8, 2025.
The GoFundMe statement, posted September 17, is a raw outpouring of pain: “As many of you know, Celeste Rivas Hernandez has been identified as the body found last week. Her family is heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss. They are seeking help to lay her body to rest.” Organized by Lozano and Vera, the fundraiser has drawn 200 donors, with comments like “Rest in peace, sweet girl” from @LakeEHeart on X. A vigil is planned in Lake Elsinore, where Celeste’s community will gather to honor her memory. “She was our light,” her mother wrote, a sentiment echoed by relatives who called her a “beloved” presence in their lives.
The family’s revelation to TMZ added a haunting layer: Celeste’s mother suspected the body was her daughter’s when she heard of the “Shhhh…” tattoo on the right index finger, a detail matching Celeste’s. More chillingly, she mentioned Celeste’s boyfriend, “David,” a name that raised eyebrows given the Tesla’s owner, David Anthony Burke. “I never met him,” she told TMZ, unsure if it was d4vd but noting the tattoo coincidence. The tattoo, while not unique—shared by stars like Rihanna and Lindsay Lohan—has fueled speculation, with @TruthSeekerX tweeting, “That tattoo match is too weird. There’s a connection.”
The Discovery: A Tow Yard Nightmare
The case began with a grim scene at Hollywood Tow on North Mansfield Avenue. On September 3, a black 2023 Tesla Model Y with Texas plates was reported abandoned on Bluebird Avenue near Doheny Drive in the Hollywood Hills. Towed to the impound lot, it sat for two days until September 8, when employees reported a “foul odor” to the LAPD. Officers arrived at 12:20 p.m., discovering a dismembered body wrapped in plastic in the frunk. The remains, “severely decomposed,” were later identified as Celeste’s, with the medical examiner noting she’d been dead for an “extended period.” She was found wearing a tube top, black leggings, a yellow metal bracelet, and a stud earring, with the “Shhhh…” tattoo a key identifier.
The Tesla’s registration to d4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, stunned investigators and fans alike. A senior LAPD source told ABC News the vehicle was one of several owned by the singer, with “multiple people” having access. The car’s abandonment—parked for weeks, per neighbors—raised questions. “It moved around the neighborhood,” a source told Rolling Stone, noting sightings as early as May 2025. Paymin Danielpour, a resident, told ABC7, “It was odd, parked in front of the house later searched.” The vehicle wasn’t reported stolen, deepening the mystery of how Celeste’s body ended up inside.
The Investigation: Leads and Lingering Questions
The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is spearheading the probe, which remains unclassified as a homicide due to the “deferred” cause of death. “Several items of evidence were recovered and will be analyzed,” an LAPD spokesperson told People on September 18. A September 17 search of a Hollywood Hills home where d4vd had been staying—though not the owner—yielded a computer and other items, per NBC News. The search, near where the Tesla was abandoned, marked a turning point, with investigators exploring who accessed the vehicle during d4vd’s tour. “Multiple people used his cars,” a source told ABC News, suggesting a wide net of potential suspects.
The medical examiner’s report is pivotal but challenging. “Decomposition makes toxicology tough,” forensic expert Dr. Jane Kim told Fox News. “They’ll need forensic entomology to estimate time of death.” Celeste’s dismemberment, described by AOL as “head and torso” wrapped in plastic, suggests intent, but without a clear cause, the case hinges on physical evidence like DNA or digital clues from the seized computer. The LAPD’s silence on the “David” boyfriend claim indicates discreet exploration, with no confirmed link to d4vd beyond the car.
D4vd, performing in Minneapolis when the news broke, canceled his September 17 Seattle show but is slated for a September 20 Los Angeles performance. His team’s statement to NBC News emphasized cooperation: “D4vd has been informed and is fully cooperating with authorities.” TMZ reported he was “shocked” when police notified him, claiming “no clue anything untoward was going on.” No arrests have been made, and he’s not a suspect, but the optics are brutal—Crocs and Hollister dropped him from campaigns, per @FearedBuck on X.
D4vd: A Star in the Crosshairs
David Anthony Burke, born in Queens and raised in Houston, is a 20-year-old prodigy whose 2022 hit “Romantic Homicide” amassed 1.5 billion Spotify streams. Signed to Darkroom and Interscope, he’s toured with SZA and collaborated with Kali Uchis, cementing his Gen Z icon status. His Withered album, released April 2025, fueled a world tour ongoing during the discovery. Yet, the case has cast a shadow. His “Romantic Homicide” lyrics—“In the back of my mind, you died / And I didn’t even cry”—have been dissected on X, with @tythecreator_r calling them “eerie” in light of the case. A 2023 Genius interview clarified the song as “storytelling,” but fan edits pairing it with news clips have hit 3 million TikTok views.
A Minneapolis performance, where d4vd tossed Labubu toys to fans hours after the news, drew 4 million TikTok views and criticism for insensitivity. “He’s acting like nothing happened,” tweeted @GrieveWithGrace. Defenders, like @sleekmahn, argue he’s a victim: “D4vd hasn’t been in LA—the car was abandoned for days. Someone set him up.” The tattoo match, noted by @TruthSeekerX, fuels speculation, though TMZ cautions its commonality. His silence on social media—last Instagram post a tour promo—has left fans divided.
The Family’s Plea: A Cry for Justice
Celeste’s family, through their GoFundMe, is channeling grief into action. “Any funds you are able to donate are greatly appreciated,” Lozano and Vera wrote, aiming to give Celeste a proper farewell. The fundraiser’s traction—200 donors, $10,000 raised—reflects community support, with @LakeEHeart tweeting, “Celeste was one of us. We won’t forget.” The family’s TMZ interview revealed their suspicion upon hearing of the tattoo and the Tesla’s owner. “I knew it was her,” her mother said, citing the “Shhhh…” ink and the “David” connection. While unverified, the claim has sparked 50,000 X posts under #Justice4Celeste, with users like @CelesteForever demanding, “Someone knows something. Speak up.”
The family’s pain is compounded by Celeste’s history as a runaway. “She was searching,” her mother told TMZ, hinting at vulnerabilities that may have led her 70 miles from Lake Elsinore to Hollywood. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notes 30,000 teens vanish annually, with runaways like Celeste at high risk. A 2024 CalMatters report flagged Lake Elsinore’s lack of youth resources, a systemic gap that left Celeste exposed. “We tried everything,” her mother reiterated, a plea echoing countless families.
The Social Media Storm: Mourning and Theories
X is a cauldron of grief and speculation. #CelesteRivas, with 150,000 posts, carries tributes like @Justice4Celeste’s “She deserved better,” garnering 20,000 likes. #d4vd, with 150,000 posts, splits between defenders and skeptics. “He’s being framed—the car was abandoned,” tweeted @d4vdFan4Life, while @RebornFenian raged, “If that was any of us, we’d be arrested.” Reddit’s r/TrueCrime, with a 10,000-upvote thread, debates: “Setup or sloppy crime?” User u/CaseCrusader wrote, “The tattoo’s a red herring—too common. But the car access is key.” TikTok’s fan edits, syncing “Romantic Homicide” to crime photos, have 3 million views but draw ire for insensitivity. “Respect Celeste,” tweeted @GrieveWithGrace, echoed by @iHeartRadio’s call for calm.
Theories abound: @qsenn35 insists, “D4vd’s tour schedule clears him—someone else had the keys.” Others note the Tesla’s movements, spotted in the Hollywood Hills since May, per Rolling Stone. The “David” boyfriend claim, unconfirmed, has sparked fringe theories tying Celeste to d4vd’s social media, though AOL found no evidence. The family’s GoFundMe has become a rallying point, with @CelesteForever urging, “Donate if you can—justice starts with her voice.”
The Broader Context: A Systemic Tragedy
Celeste’s case exposes a grim reality: runaways face disproportionate danger. The 70-mile journey from Lake Elsinore to Hollywood suggests possible luring or trafficking, a concern raised by CalMatters. The Tesla’s abandonment mirrors cases like Gabby Petito’s, where vehicles held clues. “Dismemberment suggests intent,” Dr. Jane Kim told Fox News, but decomposition obscures answers. The Hollywood Hills, a transient hub for celebrities, complicates tracking the car’s users. “It’s a puzzle,” Kim added, with the LAPD relying on forensic breakthroughs.
The family’s statement underscores a universal pain. “Her family is devastated,” Lozano and Vera wrote, a sentiment resonating with 12,000 X retweets. The GoFundMe’s success reflects a community desperate to honor Celeste, but her mother’s TMZ comments—hinting at a “David” connection—keep the case in the spotlight. “Someone knows something,” she pleaded, a call echoed by @Justice4Celeste: “Celeste was a kid. Don’t let her be forgotten.”
The Path Forward: Evidence and Answers
The LAPD’s leads—computer data, DNA, witness interviews—center on the Tesla’s access. “Multiple people used his cars,” a source told ABC News, suggesting a breakthrough lies in tracing the last driver. The medical examiner’s October report will clarify time and cause of death, crucial for classifying the case. “Forensic entomology is key,” Dr. Kim noted, given decomposition’s challenges. The Hollywood Hills home, searched September 17, may yield digital clues, with the computer a focal point.
D4vd’s cooperation, per NBC News, contrasts with his public silence, a strategic move amid backlash. “He’s shaken,” a source told E! Online. The family, meanwhile, plans a vigil, with @LakeEHeart tweeting, “We’ll light candles for Celeste.” The GoFundMe’s $10,000 goal is nearly met, but justice remains elusive. “We want answers,” her mother wrote, a plea that’s become a movement.
A Community’s Cry, a Nation’s Gaze
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s life ended in a Tesla’s trunk, but her family’s voice—raw, resolute—demands she’s not forgotten. Was she a runaway caught in a deadly web? Did someone exploit d4vd’s absence? Or is the truth darker? The LAPD’s leads, from tattoos to computers, hold the key, but for now, Celeste’s story is one of loss and longing. Her family’s words—“beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend”—echo across X, where 300,000 posts keep her name alive. As Lake Elsinore prepares to mourn, and d4vd navigates a tarnished spotlight, one truth resonates: Celeste deserved better, and her family’s fight for justice is just beginning.