Los Angeles police have prevented the county coroner’s office from disclosing information regarding the death of a teenage girl discovered in the trunk of a vehicle registered to the musician known as d4vd, according to the medical examiner’s office on Monday.
The deceased, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was found in a Tesla that had been impounded in Los Angeles shortly after her 15th birthday on September 8. Multiple news sources indicated that the vehicle belonged to d4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, aged 20.
A statement from the medical examiner’s office revealed that a “security hold” has been placed on Rivas Hernandez’s case due to a court order initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). This order, issued on Friday, prohibits the release of any information related to the case, including the cause and manner of death, until further notice.
Recent reports from various Los Angeles television stations suggested that the Houston-born alt-pop singer is considered a suspect by the police, although this has not been officially confirmed by the LAPD. The singer’s attorney, Blair Berk, did not respond to requests for comments on Monday.
LAPD Captain Mike Bland clarified that the security hold was established not to hinder transparency but to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing police investigation conducted by the robbery homicide division. Bland stated that the purpose was to ensure that investigators receive information before it reaches the media and the public.
Chief medical examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo remarked that such security holds are uncommon in other California counties. Ukpo emphasized the office’s commitment to transparency but stated that legal restrictions prevent them from full disclosure while the court order remains in effect for this case.
Rivas Hernandez’s body was discovered in a severely decomposed state, indicating that she had likely been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period before being found, as per a statement from the medical examiner’s office in September.
The missing teenager was last seen in April 2024 in Lake Elsinore, where she grew up, approximately 95 kilometers southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
D4vd, known for his fusion of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop, garnered popularity among Gen Z. His track “Romantic Homicide” went viral on TikTok in 2022, peaking at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. He subsequently signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records, releasing his debut EP “Petals to Thorns” and a follow-up, “The Lost Petals,” in 2023.
The musician had been touring for his first full-length album, “Withered,” when the discovery of Rivas Hernandez’s body occurred. Consequently, the remaining North American shows in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as a planned performance at L.A.’s Grammy Museum, were canceled, along with an upcoming European tour scheduled to commence in Norway on October 1.