When D4vd, the 20-year-old R&B sensation known for his haunting melodies and over half a billion streams, was quietly added to a homicide investigation in late November 2025, fans didn’t just hit pause on his music—they hit panic. The dismembered body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 15-year-old Los Angeles County teen, had been found inside his Tesla two months earlier, tucked away at a nondescript tow yard just outside the Hollywood Hills. Now, after weeks of forensic work and witness interviews, law enforcement sources confirmed to KTLA 5 that D4vd is officially a suspect in her death.
The Discovery That Shook Los Angeles
On or around September 19, 2025, tow yard workers in Los Angeles County stumbled upon something unthinkable: the dismembered remains of a teenage girl inside a 2023 Tesla Model S. The vehicle had been impounded after being abandoned near D4vd’s rental home on a quiet block in the Hollywood Hills. No one reported the car missing. No one noticed it sat there for weeks. When authorities finally opened the trunk, they found fragments of bone, clothing, and signs of blunt-force trauma. The victim? Celeste Rivas Hernandez, last seen alive in late August 2025. Her disappearance had initially been treated as a runaway case—until the evidence turned gruesome.
Why D4vd? The Timeline That Doesn’t Add Up
Here’s the thing: D4vd was on tour when the body was discovered. He performed in Chicago, Atlanta, and even Toronto during the last week of September. On paper, he had an alibi. But investigators aren’t buying it. They’ve zeroed in on a chilling detail: an unexplained overnight trip he took in the spring of 2025—between March and June—to a remote stretch of the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County. According to TMZ, security footage and cell tower pings show he arrived alone at 2 a.m., stayed for nearly six hours, and left without logging into any public Wi-Fi or making a single call. No hotel. No gas station. No witnesses. Just silence.
And then there’s the Tesla. The car was registered to D4vd. The vehicle’s internal logs—accessed after a court order—show unusual activity in the hours before it was towed: multiple rapid accelerations, extended idle times in the garage, and a single 17-minute window on August 28, 2025, where the cabin temperature spiked dramatically, then dropped to near-freezing. Forensic teams are now analyzing the car’s upholstery for trace evidence. They’re also looking at whether someone else helped move the body. "We’re not ruling out accomplices," one investigator told KTLA 5. "This wasn’t a solo act. The dismemberment was too precise. Too cold."
The Song That Feels Like a Confession
It’s impossible to ignore the eerie coincidence of D4vd’s latest single, "Romantic Homicide," which dropped in May 2025 and quickly climbed to #3 on Spotify’s Global Charts. The lyrics? Lines like: "I buried her in steel and silence, no one hears the engine hum." And: "She left her name in the backseat, now it’s mine to keep." Fans initially called it poetic. Now, prosecutors are treating it as potential evidence.
His label, Interscope Records, has issued a brief statement: "We are aware of the investigation and extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. We are cooperating fully with authorities." But they’ve pulled his music from all public playlists and paused all upcoming tour dates. The streaming numbers? Still climbing. That’s the twisted reality of fame in 2025.
What Happens Next?
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has assigned eight detectives to the case. The medical examiner hasn’t released the official cause of death, but sources say the injuries suggest prolonged restraint and blunt trauma before death. If charges are filed, they’ll likely include first-degree murder under California Penal Code Section 189—with special circumstances for dismemberment and concealment.
Investigators are now waiting on DNA results from the Santa Barbara site. They believe the forest location may have been used to clean or store evidence. They’re also reviewing D4vd’s social media DMs from August 2025. One message, reportedly sent to an unknown account, reads: "I can’t undo what I did. But I can make sure no one finds her." Authorities haven’t confirmed if it’s authentic.
Why This Matters Beyond the Headlines
This isn’t just about a singer. It’s about how quickly society idolizes art while ignoring the artist. D4vd built his brand on vulnerability—raw lyrics about loneliness, trauma, and emotional collapse. Millions connected with his pain. But what if that pain was real? What if it wasn’t metaphor? What if the art was a mirror, not a mask?
The case has reignited debates about mental health in young artists, the pressure of viral fame, and how little scrutiny is paid to the private lives of those who entertain us. Celeste Rivas Hernandez had dreams of becoming a dancer. She posted videos on TikTok. She had friends. Family. A birthday coming up in October. She was 15. And now, she’s a footnote in a music scandal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is D4vd under arrest?
No, as of November 19, 2025, D4vd has not been arrested. He is a suspect under active investigation, and law enforcement is still gathering forensic evidence from his Tesla and the Santa Barbara County site. Authorities expect to file formal charges within 30 to 60 days, pending DNA and digital analysis.
Why is the Santa Barbara trip so important?
Investigators believe the remote Los Padres National Forest location may have been used to dispose of evidence or even store Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body before final disposal. The timing—months before the body was found—and the lack of any digital footprint suggest intentional concealment. Cell data shows he was alone, with no communication for hours, which is highly unusual for a public figure.
Could someone else be involved in disposing the body?
Yes. Law enforcement sources confirm they are actively investigating whether D4vd had assistance. The precision of the dismemberment, the logistics of moving a body across Los Angeles without detection, and the vehicle’s prolonged unreported status all point to possible accomplices. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from gas stations, tow yards, and nearby neighborhoods.
How did the body end up in the Tesla?
Authorities believe the body was placed in the Tesla’s trunk after Celeste’s death in late August 2025. The vehicle was then left at D4vd’s Hollywood Hills rental. It was towed days later for parking violations—unnoticed until workers opened the trunk. Forensic teams are now analyzing blood patterns, tissue residue, and trace materials inside the car’s cabin and trunk.
What charges could D4vd face?
If charged, he could face first-degree murder with special circumstances under California Penal Code Section 189, due to the dismemberment and concealment of evidence. Additional charges may include desecration of human remains and obstruction of justice. If convicted, he could face life without parole.
Is "Romantic Homicide" being used as evidence?
Yes. Prosecutors are treating the lyrics as potential statements of intent or confession. While not conclusive on its own, the song’s release timing—just weeks before the body was discovered—and its graphic content make it a significant piece of circumstantial evidence. Legal experts say it could influence jury perception if the case goes to trial.