The quiet suburban streets of Los Angeles and Hempstead, Texas, have become the unsettling backdrop to a perplexing and deeply disturbing investigation: the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her body, found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to 20-year-old rising musical artist D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has ignited a firestorm of speculation, leaving authorities and the public alike grappling for answers. Despite weeks having passed since the grim discovery on September 8th, no arrests have been made, no suspects identified, and the silence surrounding the potential involvement of D4vd has only deepened the mystery.

The case, which continues to unfold with new revelations, was recently explored on Law and Crime’s “Sidebar,” featuring insights from retired detective commander Will Spiel. His perspective offers a crucial lens through which to examine the labyrinthine complexities of this investigation, where every piece of information seems to raise more questions than it answers.

A Crime Committed, But What Kind?

One of the most immediate and undeniable truths in this tragedy is that a crime has indeed occurred. As Spiel emphatically states, regardless of the cause of death, the act of placing Celeste’s dismembered body in the trunk of a car constitutes, at minimum, desecration of a corpse or improper handling of a dead body. “The girl was put in the trunk of a car, dismembered. Somebody did that. That’s a crime,” he asserted. The lingering question, however, is the nature of her death itself. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has yet to determine the cause or manner of death, leaving open the possibility that criminal culpability extends beyond merely concealing her body. Until medical science can provide definitive answers, the narrative surrounding Celeste’s final moments remains tragically incomplete.

The Enigmatic Tesla and Its Battered Past

The car in which Celeste was found—a Tesla registered to D4vd—has become a central, perplexing piece of evidence. Reports from Fox 11 LA, citing private investigator Steve Fischer, paint a vivid picture of a vehicle that appears to have endured a harsh journey. Fischer noted that the car looked “off-road in the desert or something,” with “wheel wells all beat up” and a “huge dent in the back.” This detail introduces a critical geographical element: the car was discovered in the Hollywood Hills, yet its condition suggests a prior, more rugged location.

This revelation fuels speculation about where Celeste may have died and where her body was initially handled. Spiel hypothesized that investigators would be diligently tracing a route from D4vd’s rented property to the car’s discovery site, seeking any off-road areas that align with the vehicle’s appearance. The theory of an accidental overdose, followed by panic and concealment to avoid exposing a potentially illicit relationship between a minor and an adult, has been floated by Fischer. Celeste was found the day after what would have been her 15th birthday, highlighting the severe legal ramifications for a 20-year-old involved with a 14-year-old.

The Shifting Timeline and Celeste’s Troubled Life

The investigation has also delved deeply into Celeste’s personal life, revealing a tumultuous past marked by multiple runaway attempts and frequent police calls to her family home in Lake Elsinore, California. ABC7 and other outlets reported 11 calls to her home over a 14-month period, with many in 2024 listed as follow-ups. Surveillance footage from March 2024 shows Celeste jogging down a street, turning a corner, and disappearing—an event believed to be one of her runaway attempts. Adding another layer of complexity, another video seemingly shows Celeste in September 2024, back in her Lake Elsinore neighborhood, embroiled in an argument. This discovery significantly shifts the previous timeline, which had indicated she went missing in April 2024.

Spiel emphasized the critical importance of this “deep dive” into Celeste’s life. Understanding her movements, her mindset, who she was living with, and how she was supporting herself during her periods of absence are all crucial pieces of the puzzle. “If a 14-year-old’s missing from their home, there’s some things going on in that house,” he noted, underscoring the necessity of examining her home life and social circle, including her ex-boyfriend and friends, to ascertain how she ultimately came to be in D4vd’s car.

D4vd’s Silence and the Legal Strategy

The most striking aspect of this ongoing investigation is D4vd’s unwavering silence. Despite the immense public scrutiny and the direct connection of his car to Celeste’s death, the singer has not issued any statements, acknowledged Celeste’s name, or offered condolences. This silence, while frustrating to some, is a calculated legal maneuver. D4vd has reportedly retained a prominent celebrity defense attorney, Blair Burke, known for representing high-profile clients like Harvey Weinstein, CeeLo Green, and Britney Spears.

Spiel confirmed the wisdom of this strategy, stating, “You never have to explain something that you didn’t say. So the best thing to do in his case is keep your mouth shut.” He highlighted the inherent risks of speaking publicly, especially given the potential legal ramifications of a relationship with a minor. While an attorney’s involvement can complicate the investigative process by requiring all communication to go through legal counsel, it is a standard practice that law enforcement is accustomed to navigating. The core question remains: if D4vd truly had no involvement, why haven’t authorities publicly cleared him? Spiel suggested that investigators are operating under several theories and simply “don’t know yet,” making a public exoneration premature.

The Specter of Swatting and the Framing Theory

Adding another bizarre twist to the narrative, D4vd’s family in Hempstead, Texas, appears to have been the victim of “swatting”—a dangerous prank where someone falsely reports an imminent threat to emergency services, prompting a full-force police response. Bodycam footage, obtained by TMZ, shows officers responding to a report of gunfire and a dead person at the Burke family home, only to find confused and apprehensive residents who denied any such incident.

This incident, occurring shortly after Celeste’s body was discovered, raises the chilling possibility of D4vd being targeted or framed. “Interesting timing,” Spiel mused, acknowledging the need for investigators to explore this angle. However, he also questioned the motivation and logistics of such an elaborate scheme, particularly given the distance between Texas and California. While not impossible, framing someone through murder and dismemberment seems an “extreme” measure to merely destroy a reputation. The question of “who benefits?” from such an act remains central to this theory.

The Unconfirmed Connection and Public Assistance

Despite intense speculation, police have not definitively established a connection between D4vd and Celeste. However, various pieces of circumstantial evidence have fueled rumors of a romantic or sexual relationship. TMZ reported that sources close to D4vd believed Celeste was 19, and the two were allegedly photographed together. An unfinished track of D4vd’s, possibly including “Celeste” in its file name, was reportedly leaked. Adding to this, the pair may have had matching “sh” tattoos on their fingers, although this could also be a fan’s emulation of an idol.

These details, while not conclusive of a relationship, are crucial for investigators. Spiel noted that a perceived age discrepancy—a 20-year-old believing they are involved with a 19-year-old, only to discover she is 14—could create a powerful motive for panic and concealment due to the catastrophic impact on one’s career and legal standing. He also entertained the possibility of Celeste being an “obsessive fan” with a fake ID, making herself appear older. In either scenario, the public’s assistance in unearthing more information about this alleged connection is invaluable.

Waiting for Answers: The Toxicology Report

The most anticipated development in this case is the toxicology report, which will provide crucial information about Celeste’s cause and manner of death. Expected to take six to eight weeks, these tests will reveal levels of alcohol or drugs in her system. A high toxicity level could indicate a cause of death, such as an overdose, though the “manner” (accidental, homicide, etc.) would still need to be determined, a challenging task with a severely decomposed body where evidence is likely lost.

Spiel stressed that until these results are in, the investigation, while thorough and conducted as if it were a murder inquiry, remains largely theoretical. The cause and manner of death will be the “big change” and the “big break” that allows the case to move forward with potential prosecutable charges. Even if Celeste’s death is deemed accidental, charges related to the improper handling and concealment of her body are still anticipated. The world now waits with bated breath for the scientific answers that may finally unravel the tragic riddle of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death.