R&B Singer D4vd Named Suspect in Homicide of 15-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez

When the foul odor from a Tesla at a Hollywood impound lot led police to a decomposing body on September 8, 2025, no one could have predicted it would unravel into one of the most chilling celebrity-linked homicides in recent memory. The victim: Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 15-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, last seen alive in April 2024 after running away from home. The car: registered to rising R&B star D4vd, whose real name is David. And now, according to multiple law enforcement sources confirmed by KTLA 5 and ABC News, the LAPD officially treats him as a suspect — and the case as a homicide.

The Discovery That Shook the Music World

Police responded to the impound lot on September 8, 2025, not because of a traffic violation or stolen vehicle report, but because of a stench so strong it drew complaints from nearby workers. Inside the front trunk of the Tesla, they found Celeste’s remains in an advanced state of decomposition — so severe, investigators believe she had been dead for weeks, possibly months. What made the case even more horrifying: her body had been dismembered. "The process of dismembering and disposing of her body is believed to have likely involved more than one person," an ABC News source told reporters on November 18, 2025. That detail alone shifted the entire investigation from a missing persons case to a complex, multi-person homicide. The timing couldn’t have been worse for D4vd. His deluxe album, Romantic Homicide: Expanded Edition, was slated for release on September 19, 2025. Tour dates across Europe were already booked. Within hours of the discovery, all promotional activity halted. Shows were canceled. Social media went silent. The irony wasn’t lost on fans — the singer’s breakout hit, "Romantic Homicide," had already drawn attention for its dark, moody lyrics about obsession and loss. Now, the song’s title felt less like art and more like a grim foreshadowing.

A Missing Girl, a Mysterious Trip, and a Shifting Investigation

Celeste had been reported missing by her family in April 2024 to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. For over a year, the case went cold. No leads. No sightings. Then, in September 2025, her body turned up in a car registered to someone with national fame — and suddenly, the LAPD took over. One of the most puzzling pieces of evidence? A trip D4vd took to a remote stretch of Santa Barbara County in the spring of 2025. TMZ reported he spent several hours alone in the wilderness, late at night, with no known companions. Authorities are now combing through cell tower pings, surveillance footage from nearby gas stations, and even satellite imagery to reconstruct his movements. "We’re looking at every possible connection," a LAPD detective told KTLA 5 on November 19, 2025. "This wasn’t spontaneous. This was planned. And someone helped him." Forensic teams are still analyzing the Tesla’s interior for trace evidence — blood, fibers, DNA. The dismemberment suggests knowledge of anatomy or experience with tools. Investigators are also interviewing people who’ve been in D4vd’s inner circle since early 2024, including tour managers, assistants, and even former romantic partners.

Public Outcry and Industry Fallout

The news sent shockwaves through the music community. Fans who once streamed "Romantic Homicide" on repeat now post memorial candles on Instagram. Music critics are revisiting interviews where D4vd spoke about "the beauty of pain" and "love that turns dark." Some say his lyrics were poetic exaggeration. Others wonder if they were confessions. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release a cause of death — a critical missing link. Without it, prosecutors can’t file formal charges. But sources say the autopsy findings are imminent. "The cause of death will determine whether this is murder, manslaughter, or something even more disturbing," one investigator told ABC News. "We’re waiting on toxicology, trauma analysis, and time-of-death estimates." Meanwhile, Celeste’s family, who have remained private, are reportedly working with victim advocates. A candlelight vigil was held outside her Lake Elsinore home on November 15, 2025. No one from D4vd’s camp has issued a statement.

What Happens Next?

With no arrests made as of November 20, 2025, the LAPD continues to build its case. They’re reviewing social media activity from both Celeste and D4vd between April 2024 and September 2025. They’re analyzing the Tesla’s GPS logs. They’re questioning anyone who had access to the vehicle during the months it was parked at a studio lot in North Hollywood. The case may hinge on one question: Did D4vd act alone? Or was he part of a network? The dismemberment, the remote trip, the timing — all point to preparation. And preparation implies accomplices. Legal experts say even if the cause of death isn’t immediately clear, circumstantial evidence — including the body’s location in his car and his unexplained absence during key periods — could be enough for an arrest. "This isn’t about motive," said former prosecutor Linda Ruiz. "It’s about opportunity, access, and control. If he had the means and the opportunity, the law doesn’t need a confession to move forward."

Why This Case Matters

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a teenager who vanished. Her story might have faded into the background of thousands of missing youth cases — if not for the grotesque discovery in a luxury car owned by a celebrity. Her death highlights how easily vulnerable teens can disappear, how quickly fame can become a shield, and how little we truly know about the people we idolize. The music industry often romanticizes darkness. But this isn’t a lyric. It’s a life. And now, the world is waiting for justice — not just for Celeste, but for every girl who ever ran away and never came back.