Teen's Body Found in D4vd's Tesla: LAPD Still Searching for Answers as Private Investigator Reveals New Timeline

The decomposed body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 17-year-old from East Los Angeles, was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd — a revelation that has stunned fans and investigators alike. The discovery, made in January 2025, sparked a high-profile death investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which, as of October 24, 2025, still has no arrests, no confirmed cause of death, and no clear answers. The car had been parked for weeks at a rented Hollywood Hills home, and now, a private investigator hired by the property owner is piecing together a chilling timeline that suggests more was happening behind closed doors than anyone realized.

The Last Known Days of Celeste Rivas Hernandez

Celeste was last seen alive on January 2, 2025, at her family’s home on Medea Street in East Los Angeles. She was a junior at Garfield High School, quiet but bright, with dreams of studying graphic design. Her mother, Rosa Hernandez, reported her missing on January 12 after failing to reach her for three days. By then, the car — a black Tesla Model S with California plate 4FVD777 — had already been sitting at 2211 Micheltorena Street in the Hollywood Hills for over a week. The house, a 5,200-square-foot Spanish Colonial Revival built in 1927, had been rented through Sonder to D4vd’s manager, David Silberstein, who works for Interscope Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.

What the Security Footage Shows

Private investigator Steve Fischer, hired by the 68-year-old retired film producer who owns the Micheltorena Street property, reviewed surveillance footage from January 1 to January 14, 2025. It showed the Tesla entering the driveway on January 3 at 11:47 p.m. and not leaving until January 14 at 9:15 a.m. — nearly two full weeks. No one else was seen loading or unloading anything from the vehicle during that time. The footage also captured D4vd arriving at the property on January 3, staying overnight, and leaving the next morning. He didn’t return until January 10, when he was seen briefly entering the house with two others — identities still unknown.

The Silence That Spoke Louder Than Words

Here’s the thing: D4vd, who had over 2.7 million followers across Instagram and TikTok as of December 2024, went completely silent after January 10. No posts. No stories. No comments. Not even a like. That’s not just unusual — it’s unheard of for a Gen Z artist whose brand is built on constant digital connection. His team didn’t issue a statement. His label didn’t respond to media inquiries. And now, with the case still open, that silence feels like a confession in reverse.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed Celeste’s body was in “a very advanced state of decomposition,” and while the autopsy was completed on January 20, toxicology results remain pending as of October 2025. That delay — nearly ten months — has raised eyebrows. “It’s not normal to take this long unless they’re waiting for something,” said one former coroner’s investigator who spoke anonymously. “Either the lab is backlogged, or they’re waiting for a match — maybe drugs, maybe something else.”

Who’s Holding the Keys?

The property owner, who has not been named, grew concerned when he learned his home — often rented to music industry figures — might be connected to a death. He hired Fischer to determine if his house was merely a location or somehow involved. Fischer’s team found no signs of violence inside the residence, but they did uncover a pattern: D4vd’s entourage had been using the house as a de facto base for nearly a month before Celeste vanished. One neighbor reported hearing loud music and “a lot of people coming and going” during that time.

The LAPD executed a search warrant on January 15, 2025, at the Micheltorena Street home. Items seized were never disclosed, but sources close to the case say investigators took hard drives, phones, and vehicle logs from the Tesla. The car’s onboard system, which logs location and driving patterns, was reportedly wiped clean — a detail that’s now under forensic review.

Family, Lawyers, and the Weight of Waiting

Celeste’s family has been left in limbo. Their attorney, Maria Elena Durazo, told reporters on January 18, 2025: “We are cooperating fully with LAPD but growing increasingly concerned about investigative delays.” That frustration has only deepened. No suspects have been named. No charges filed. No public updates since October.

Meanwhile, the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division — based at 150 North Los Angeles Street — continues to classify the case as “active.” Internal sources told ABC7’s Michelle Fisher that detectives are “not close” to making an arrest. The case is now under the Pacific Division, which handles high-profile homicides in the city’s west side.

Why This Case Matters

Celeste wasn’t a celebrity. She didn’t have millions of followers. But her death has become a symbol of how easily young people — especially those on the margins — can disappear in a system that moves too slowly, or worse, looks away. The fact that her body was found in a luxury car owned by a rising pop star, stored at a rented mansion in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Los Angeles, underscores a brutal truth: privilege can shield, delay, and obscure.

The timeline is clear: January 2, last seen. January 3, Tesla arrives at Micheltorena. January 10, D4vd’s last public appearance. January 12, reported missing. January 15, search warrant. January 20, autopsy complete. October 24, new details emerge — but still no answers.

What’s Next?

The toxicology report is expected to be released by late November 2025. If it reveals drugs, alcohol, or trauma, it could shift the investigation’s direction. The LAPD has also reportedly begun reviewing cell tower data from Celeste’s phone during the days leading up to her disappearance. And the property owner’s legal team is preparing to file a civil suit against Sonder, questioning whether the platform properly vetted its renters.

For now, the only thing certain is this: Celeste Rivas Hernandez deserved better than silence.