LOS ANGELES– The disturbing discovery was made at a Hollywood tow yard in Los Angeles. Police found a decomposed body in the trunk of a Tesla, registered to David Anthony Burke, known as the singer D4vd .
The LA Times reported that authorities identified the body as Celeste Rivas, a 15-year-old from Lake Elsinore in Riverside County. Celeste had been missing since 5 April 2024. The case has gained wide attention because of its ties to a fast-rising musician and the mysterious details surrounding the teen’s death, which police are treating as a homicide.
Los Angeles police got a call just after midday on 8 September from staff at Hollywood Tow, near Mansfield Avenue and Romaine Street. Workers said a strong odour was coming from a black 2023 Tesla Model Y with Texas plates.
Two-yard records show the car was impounded on 5 September after it was reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills. Neighbours said the Tesla had been parked off and on in the flashy Bird Streets neighbourhood near Bluebird Avenue and Doheny Drive since around May 2024.
Inside the car’s front trunk (known as the “frunk”), officers found a body wrapped in a bag . The remains were badly decomposed, suggesting the person died weeks or even months earlier, possibly during the heat of summer.
The advanced decay made identification difficult, and police noted the remains were not whole. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the deceased was a girl, around 5 feet 2, weighing 71 pounds, with wavy black hair. She wore a tube top, black leggings, a yellow metal chain bracelet, and stud earrings. A “Shhh…” tattoo on her right index finger became a key clue in identifying her.
Celeste Rivas Identified
On 17 September 2025, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner officially named the victim as Celeste Rivas, a 15-year-old from Lake Elsinore. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Celeste had been missing since the night of 5 April 2024, when she left home at about 9 pm.
Though Celeste had run away before, she had always come back, making her long absence especially worrying. Her mother, speaking to TMZ, recognized the “Shhh…” tattoo and other details as matching her daughter. Forensic tests later confirmed Celeste’s identity, but the cause of death is listed as “deferred” while the coroner waits for more results.
The Riverside County Sheriff says the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is handling the case, calling the death a homicide. Investigators have not named any suspects, and it is still unclear how Celeste ended up in the Tesla. Detectives are working with the coroner to find out when and how she died.
The Tesla’s Connection to D4vd
The car is registered to David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter with major hits like “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me”. At the time of the body’s discovery, D4vd was travelling for his Withered World Tour.
On 9 September, he performed in Minneapolis, with plans to play Los Angeles on 20 September at the Greek Theatre. A representative for D4vd said he was aware of the situation and is working with police, even while away on tour. Reports suggest that the Tesla is one of several cars Burke owns and has been used by various people, adding to the complexity.
Interestingly, D4vd has the same “Shhh…” tattoo on his right index finger, a design also seen on public figures like Rihanna and Lindsay Lohan, so it isn’t rare. TMZ reported that Celeste’s mother mentioned her daughter had a boyfriend named “David” around the time she disappeared, though police have not confirmed any direct connection to Burke.
LAPD officials have not called D4vd a suspect or person of interest, and the Tesla was never reported stolen. The path that placed Celeste’s body inside the vehicle is still unknown.
Impact and Community Reaction
Celeste’s case is not the only recent tragedy involving bodies found in abandoned vehicles in Los Angeles. On 9 September, another woman was found dead in the boot of a burnt-out Honda Civic at a tow yard in South LA, also linked to a missing person case. Police say the incidents are not related, though public worry has grown given the timing and locations. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the burning car death is being looked at as arson.
The news has affected D4vd’s public image. Brands including Crocs and Hollister have removed him from their “Dream Drop” campaign materials. A Seattle concert set for 17 September was cancelled, with no clear link to the ongoing investigation. D4vd has limited social media comments and has issued only brief statements affirming his cooperation with police.
Back in Lake Elsinore, Celeste’s community is grieving. Neighbours described her as cheerful, bright, and kind. She attended Lakeland Village School, and her loss has left many in shock. A family friend, Rubi Alonso, told Rolling Stone that Celeste was “very beautiful” and said the tragedy has stunned everyone. The situation has also raised concerns about the risks faced by missing teenagers and how Celeste’s body could sit undetected in the car for months.
Challenges Facing Investigators
The high level of decomposition limits what investigators can learn straight away. The coroner has not yet provided a medical cause of death, making it harder for police to finalize the case as a murder, though that is their working theory.
Police believe the Tesla sat unmovable in the Bird Streets for weeks before towing, possibly hiding the crime for months. Residents in the area told Rolling Stone they saw the vehicle parked in various spots as far back as May, deepening the puzzle of who drove it and when Celeste was put in the trunk.
LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is talking to anyone linked to the Tesla, including D4vd and others who had use of the car. Forensics like DNA, fingerprints, or surveillance footage from the tow yard or neighbourhood streets could play a crucial role. No one has been named as a suspect, and there is no known motive or clear link between Celeste and the car’s owner at this stage.
Celeste Rivas’s death in a car tied to a well-known singer has sparked national headlines and speculation online. The story highlights the tough realities of missing person cases, community safety, and the important role of forensic science in modern investigations. D4vd’s music career has taken an unexpected hit, while Celeste’s loved ones wait for justice and answers.
Many questions are still open: How did Celeste end up in the Tesla? Who had access to the vehicle while it was parked in Hollywood? Does the matching tattoo matter in the case? As LAPD and coroner staff continue their work, both the public and Celeste’s family look for clarity in a case marked by sorrow and uncertainty.
