The Shocking Case and the Truth Behind the Abandoned Tesla

In September 2025, Los Angeles was rocked by a horrific discovery: the decomposed body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found inside the front trunk (frunk) of a Tesla Model X. Notably, the car belonged to famous singer David Burke , also known by his stage name D4vd .

The event quickly became a media storm, focusing on the mysterious relationship between the music star and the teenage girl who had been missing since April 2024. Celeste’s mother revealed that her daughter had been seeing a man named David, a single detail that was enough to send the online community into a frenzy of suspicion.

The Tesla was discovered abandoned near Dhini Drive and towed to the Hollywood Tow Lot. It was the terrible stench emanating from the car that prompted the tow lot staff to call the police. The LAPD quickly identified the body, and confirmed that Celeste’s death had occurred “weeks” before the body was discovered. The initial medical examiner’s report estimated that this timeframe was late July or early August 2025, before David Burke began his tour.

The case, already gruesome, quickly turned into a chaotic media crisis, led by a controversial viral video that derailed the entire actual investigation.

Viral Shock: Image of “Clone” Celeste at Concert

On September 23, 2025, just weeks after the body was found, a short clip and a series of low-quality photos were posted to social media, claiming to have been filmed at a David Burke concert in Silver Spring, Maryland, on August 24, 2025.

The images show a teenage girl standing in the VIP balcony, right next to the stage, who bears a striking resemblance to Celeste . She is wearing a black tank top, dark jeans, and layered jewelry—a style similar to Celeste’s in old photos. More notably, next to her is a young man who fans believe is Caleb Burke , David’s brother.

What drove the internet crazy was David Burke’s on-stage reaction. During the performance of “Feel It!”, he suddenly stopped, pointed to the balcony and smiled, even making a half-heart gesture towards the girl. This moment was interpreted by fans as an “extremely intimate” look, undeniable evidence of a secret relationship.

Online theory explodes: “Celeste is still alive on August 24, 2025!”

If true, it would upend the entire case. It would narrow the timeframe between the last sighting (August 24) and the discovery of the body (September 8) to just 15 days. This is a detail that has all the “internet detectives” wondering whether a body could decompose to the level of horror described in the forensic report in just over two weeks. Social media, from TikTok to Reddit to X, has become a chaotic forum, with millions of views, comments, and frame-by-frame analysis of the girl’s face.

Digital Witch Hunts and True Identity

The online hysteria quickly spiraled out of control, turning a supposed tip into a vicious witch hunt. Social media users took on the role of detectives, digging up personal information, tagging Celeste’s family, and even publicly identifying people in the video. The real-world impact was devastating: not only did it put David Burke at the center of public hatred, it also harmed an innocent person.

Just 48 hours after the video went viral, the truth was revealed.

On September 25, reputable news outlets like NewsNation broke exclusive information that put all the speculation to rest: the girl in the video was not Celeste. She was Mia Lopez , an 18-year-old superfan from Bethesda, Maryland. Mia attended the concert with friends and had previously connected with Caleb Burke on the social network TikTok.

Allegedly a missing girl in a shocking case, Mia Lopez was forced to come forward, providing irrefutable evidence: ticket stubs, a timestamped selfie from August 24, and an event bracelet. Everything matched perfectly, proving she was completely innocent and a victim of social media hysteria.

Forensic evidence put the rumors to rest. Forensic pathologist Dr. Judy Melanin estimated Celeste’s time of death to be late July to early August 2025, based on insect activity and the state of tissue decomposition found in the trunk. This time frame placed Celeste’s death weeks before the David Burke concert.

The LAPD, in a subsequent press conference, had to deny the baseless rumors, admitting that the investigation had been slowed down as detectives had to waste time verifying and disproving false information from social media.

Field Investigation: Tesla Data and the Secret of the Trunk

With the concert theory completely destroyed, the LAPD has returned its focus to physical and digital evidence. To this day, the case is still being called a “tragic investigation” by the LAPD, not a confirmed homicide. However, they are adamant that whoever hid the body committed a crime, regardless of the cause of death.

The Tesla Model X is considered the most important piece of evidence in the entire case. Detectives searched David Burke’s rental home in West Hollywood, seizing laptops, phones and other evidence.

Technical analysis from Tesla:

OBD2 Data: Reveals the last recorded drive was on July 28, departing from David’s home.
Tesla Logs: Confirms that the front trunk was opened on the same day, July 28, in LA, likely the time Celeste’s body was placed inside.
Sentry Mode: Unfortunately, the car’s security camera is turned off, recording no images from inside or outside.

Investigators also collected more than 20 eyewitness accounts in the area, with many claiming to have seen a teenage girl (possibly Celeste) at parties before David left for tour. Celeste’s phone records and personal messages from Discord, X, and TikTok were also collected, revealing posts about “toxic love” and location markers near David’s address.

On September 29, the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office released Celeste’s death certificate, confirming she was not pregnant and had not been pregnant in the past year, putting to rest another series of online rumors. However, the cause and manner of death are still pending toxicology and lab results, which are expected in mid-October.

“We do not yet know if anyone is criminally responsible for Celeste’s death, beyond concealing the body,” the LAPD clarified, but said detectives are still investigating the possibility of more serious criminal activity.

The Celeste Rivas Hernandez case is a painful reminder of how social media can twist tragedy into entertainment, harm innocent people, and hinder true justice. Only hard evidence and real investigative work can bring final answers to this 15-year-old girl’s family.