Court seals records in case of teen’s body found in singer D4vd’s Tesla

Information about the death of Celeste Rivas Hernández, a 15-year-old girl whose body was found in the D4vd singer’s car, has not been made public, officials said.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office said it had received a court order placing a security hold on the case and that no details about Ms. Rivas Hernandez’s death could be released or posted on its website.

The police department said it requested the order to ensure officers “receive information from the medical examiner before the public.”

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo said the practice of security detentions is “virtually unheard of in other counties” and “has not been proven to improve outcomes in the justice system.”

“We are committed to serving our community with full transparency; however, the law prohibits us from doing so while the court order remains in force in this matter,” Dr. Ukpo added.

Police discovered Rivas Hernández’s remains in the trunk of the seized Tesla on September 8, after responding to reports of a foul odor at a Hollywood tow yard.

Rivas Hernandez, of Lake Elsinore, California, had gone missing and was last seen in April 2024, according to a missing persons flyer cited by CBS, the BBC’s US news partner.

The car, registered D4vd, was towed from the Hollywood Hills neighborhood five days after being abandoned.

D4vd, 20, real name David Anthony Burke, released his debut album in April and was touring when the remains were discovered.

He has not commented on the case, but his representatives previously said he was cooperating with police.

A police spokesperson said the case was being investigated by the Robbery and Homicide Division. No arrests have been made.

The county medical examiner previously said Rivas Hernandez’s body was “severely decomposed” when it was found in September and deferred a decision on the manner of her death pending an investigation into her death.

When her remains were found in a bag in D4vd’s car on September 8, the medical examiner said she was wearing a tube top, size Small black leggings and jewelry, including a yellow metal earring and a yellow metal chain bracelet.

She also had a tattoo that said “Shh…” on her index finger – a marking almost identical to the one on the pop singer’s own index finger.

The decomposition of her body indicates that she had already been “deceased for several weeks,” investigators said.

The girl, who lived about 120 kilometers from where her body was discovered, had run away from home several times.

Neighbors recognized the first-generation daughter of immigrant parents from El Salvador as one who went to the corner store almost daily to buy candy and soda, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Her family, who described her as a beloved daughter, sister, cousin and friend, said they were “heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss.” They solicited money from a crowdfunding site to finance his funeral, which took place in October.

The affair also derailed the viral hitmaker’s budding career.

His world tour was canceled days after his discovery and Sony Music Publishing reportedly suspended promotion of his second album.

Los Angeles police quickly raided the posh Hollywood Hills mansion where the singer lived, just blocks from where his Tesla was towed.

US retailer Hollister and shoe giant Crocs removed D4vd from their marketing campaigns and Telepatía singer Kali Uchis announced she was ending their Crashing collaboration.