The quiet glamor of the Hollywood Hills was shattered by a discovery that sent shivers down the spine of the nation: the decomposed remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, found in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla. This chilling revelation quickly entangled rising music sensation D4vd, whose life of luxury and burgeoning fame now stands juxtaposed against a dark and perplexing mystery. What began as a missing persons case spiraled into a homicide investigation, uncovering a timeline fraught with alleged secret relationships, questionable movements, and a desperate search for truth.

The narrative begins with D4vd, whose real name has not been widely disclosed in relation to this particular incident, occupying a sprawling, $20,000-a-month residence in the Hollywood Hills. This opulent abode, reportedly rented under his manager Josh’s name, became a focal point for law enforcement. Authorities allegedly raided the home, meticulously searching for any traces of blood evidence in its drains, a testament to the gravity of their suspicions. A Google Map search of the property eerily revealed a black Tesla, strikingly similar to the one in which Celeste was later discovered, parked outside. The homeowner, who claimed ignorance of D4vd’s tenancy and Celeste’s existence, asserted that security cameras were strategically placed at all entry points, both in the backyard and on the street, making it virtually impossible for anyone to enter or exit unrecorded. However, the homeowner also stated that he did not have access to this critical footage, as he provides tenants with direct access to the security company for their privacy. This detail would later become a significant point of contention in the ongoing investigation.

Adding another layer of intrigue, D4vd and his manager allegedly broke their lease on the Hollywood Hills property shortly before the grim discovery. This sudden departure, coupled with the homeowner’s lack of knowledge regarding the actual occupant, raised immediate red flags for investigators. The focus then shifted to Celeste Rivas, the young girl at the heart of this tragedy. According to reports, Celeste had a history of running away from home multiple times, attributed to a troubled family environment. The LAPD’s robbery-homicide division began piecing together her life story, revealing that her family had contacted Riverside County law enforcement at least twice to report her missing. Detectives believe that evidence strongly suggests Celeste’s troubled home life may have been the catalyst for her frequent disappearances.

A critical piece of the puzzle emerged from security footage dated March 19, 2024, from a local store named Dago Spirits. The footage reportedly captured a young girl, matching Celeste’s description, walking down the street in a dark sweater and light pants, before entering a vehicle just outside the frame. This sighting occurred a day after her family reported her missing on March 18, 2024. Celeste’s sister reportedly reviewed this footage at the store. The missing dates for Celeste were identified as Valentine’s Day 2024, March 18, 2024, and ultimately April 5, 2024, the last time her family ever saw her.

TMZ reported that Celeste often used multiple fake IDs to appear older than her 14 years, further complicating efforts to track her movements. Her brother, Matthew, allegedly stated that Celeste was on her way to the movies with D4vd when she never returned home, implying a known relationship between the two. Social media posts from February 26, 2024, show a user warning D4vd about “messing with a 13-year-old girl,” indicating that suspicions about their alleged relationship may have existed even earlier when Celeste was still 13. Police are now scrutinizing whether Celeste’s family contacted Los Angeles authorities when she disappeared that spring.

When Celeste’s remains were found, her mother reportedly identified her daughter by a distinctive red tattoo on her right index finger. This detail resonated with earlier rumors of D4vd and Celeste having matching tattoos, as D4vd also has a tattoo on his right index finger, albeit a black one. Further speculation arose from an alleged tattoo on Celeste’s left-hand ring finger, which reportedly read “David.” These alleged tattoos, if confirmed by the coroner, would provide a powerful, albeit tragic, link between the two individuals. Social media comments also hinted at the alleged relationship, with one user remarking, “Not going to lie David kind of hot,” followed by a comment that mentioned her ring finger with a ring, all reportedly from Celeste’s account.

The investigation took a significant turn when a concert video from August 24, 2025, surfaced. D4vd performed at the Fillmore in Silver Springs, Maryland, and during his performance, he was seen pointing to and making a heart gesture towards a specific section of the crowd. The video then shows a young girl, allegedly Celeste, appearing multiple times in that section, once beside another black male, rumored to be D4vd’s brother. Visual comparisons between these concert images and known pictures of Celeste showed striking similarities in facial structure, eyes, jawline, chin, nose, and notably, her characteristic big, curly hair. The medical examiner also noted that Celeste was found wearing a tube top, black leggings, a yellow metal bracelet, and metal stud earrings, with the concert footage showing her in a tube top, though with jeans. This concert appearance, weeks before her discovery, became a crucial piece of evidence, potentially placing Celeste with D4vd shortly before her death.

Online “TikTok detectives” meticulously pieced together an alleged timeline of D4vd’s movements and Celeste’s last known whereabouts from mid-August through September, culminating in the discovery of her remains. While unverified, this timeline offers a chilling narrative:

Mid-August (August 15-17, 2025): Friends reportedly lose contact with Celeste. This aligns with a text conversation from her brother Matthew, who, upon learning of her passing, indicated she had been deceased for two weeks, implying a two-week period of no communication.
August 8-9, 2025: D4vd performs in Dallas and Austin, Texas, marking the first leg of his tour. Celeste allegedly accompanies him, traveling in the Tesla, which had Texas plates. Neighbors later reported not seeing the car for a while.
August 10, 2025: A stop at the La Mesa Motel on the drive home. D4vd records a “creepy video” that he posts on Instagram on August 13.
August 11, 2025: D4vd reportedly arrives back in the Hollywood Hills, leaving the Tesla behind. Celeste is still believed to be with him.
August 12, 2025: D4vd allegedly flies with Celeste to Florida, while the Tesla remains parked in the Hollywood Hills. This car would stay there for 23 days before being impounded, matching neighbor reports of it being there for approximately three weeks.
August 23-24, 2025: This marks the last confirmed time Celeste was seen alive. She had VIP access to D4vd’s show in Silver Springs, Maryland, with video evidence seemingly confirming her presence with him.
August 25, 2025: A rough arrival home by 11:00 AM, following a 5-6 hour flight from Silver Springs, Maryland, to Hollywood, California. Celeste accompanies him back to Hollywood, and the “probable unalivening” is believed to have occurred shortly thereafter.
August 26, 2025: By 11:00 AM, D4vd reportedly flies from the Hollywood Hills to Cleveland, Ohio, a 4.5-hour flight, for an 8:00 PM show.
August 28-30, 2025: D4vd tours Boston, Massachusetts, and Montreal and Toronto, Canada. It is speculated that Celeste would not have been able to travel to Canada as a minor without a passport.
September 3, 2025: Neighbors report an abandoned Tesla in the Hollywood Hills.
September 6, 2025: The car is towed to an impound lot.
September 7, 2025: This would have been Celeste’s birthday.
September 8, 2025: The badly decomposed remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez are found wrapped in plastic inside a bag in the car’s trunk.

The discovery of Celeste’s remains in a trunk during the summer in the Hollywood Hills meant that the heat would have significantly accelerated bacterial and enzyme activity, leading to rapid decay and heavy decomposition, where soft tissues would liquefy. Celeste’s remains have since been released to her family, as the investigation continues to unfold.

The unfolding events in the case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and D4vd paint a complex and somber picture. The alleged connection between a rising pop star and a vulnerable runaway teen, punctuated by mysterious travel, an abandoned vehicle, and a tragic discovery, leaves many questions unanswered. As authorities continue their investigation, the public awaits further details that might shed light on the truth behind this unsettling saga, hoping for justice for Celeste and clarity for her grieving family. The story serves as a stark reminder of the hidden complexities that can lie beneath the surface of fame and apparent normalcy.