Teen's Body Was Hidden In Singer's Trunk, But Police Still Won't Say Why Or Who Did It

LOS ANGELES, CA — With no cause of death yet released in the discovery of a Lake Elsinore teenager's body inside an impounded Tesla belonging to singer D4VD in September, no arrests have yet been made.

More than a month after serving a search warrant at the Hollywood Hills home belonging to singer David Burke, also known as D4VD, police still haven't said whether a crime has been committed. It's not clear if charges will be filed.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner and the Los Angeles Police Department Robbery -Homicide Division originally shared the identity of Celeste Rivas Hernandez's remains on Sept. 29, Her body had been found weeks before inside the trunk of Burke's impounded Tesla, which had been abandoned in Los Angeles but never reported stolen.

"The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet determined the cause or manner of Ms. Rivas Hernandez's death. As such, it remains unclear whether there is any criminal culpability beyond the concealment of her body. RHD is thoroughly examining every aspect of this case to uncover the truth and seek justice for Celeste Rivas Hernandez and her family," the LAPD announced at the time.

In the absence of a clear cause of death, the legal charges may be minimal, KTLA reported.

If the crimes that occurred were limited to failing to report an accidental death or concealing the body of a person who died in an accidental manner, the punishment is far more lenient, legal analyst Alison Triess told KTLA.

Celeste, 13 at the time of her disappearance and 14 at the time of her death, was a resident of Lake Elsinore. She was entered into the missing person database as a runaway in April of 2025.

Her body was ultimately identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, though the manner of her death remains a mystery. Her "head and torso" were found inside a bag in the trunk, the Los Angeles Times reported. Her body was so severely decomposed that authorities were unable to determine her age or ethnicity at the time. The condition of severely decomposed bodies makes it challenging for investigators to identify the cause of death.

The investigation has been extensive, with the Los Angeles Police taking a computer and several evidence bags from Burke's home. The Tesla in which her body was found was registered in Hempstead, Texas, to Burke, according to TMZ reports. A representative of Burke told TMZ that he had been informed about the gruesome discovery and that he fully cooperated with authorities.

To date, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has not received a case for filing from the police department. DV4D cancelled a series of concerts amid the investigation last month.

Read also:

• Remains Of Missing Lake Elsinore Girl Found In Trunk Of Singer’s Tesla: Report
• Teen Whose Body Was Found In Singer's Car, Remembered 1 Year After Reported Missing
• D4vd Cancels CA Concerts, Probe Into Death Of Girl Found In His Tesla Continues
• Vigil Held For Teen Found In Singer's Tesla As Questions Circle About Investigation
• Police Search Home Of Singer After Teen's Torso Is Found In His Tesla: Reports