Los Angeles authorities have prevented the county coroner’s office from disclosing information regarding the death of a teenage girl discovered in the trunk of a vehicle linked to the artist known as d4vd, as stated by the medical examiner’s office on Monday. Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found deceased on September 8 inside an impounded Tesla in Los Angeles shortly after her 15th birthday. Multiple media outlets indicated that the car was registered to d4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, aged 20.
The medical examiner’s office released a statement mentioning that they have been served with a “court order, initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), to impose a security hold” on Rivas Hernandez’s case. This order, issued last Friday, prohibits the release or publication of any information related to the case, including the cause and manner of death, and the Medical Examiner report until further notice.
The security hold was implemented following reports by several Los Angeles TV stations suggesting that the Houston-born alt-pop singer is considered a suspect by the police, although the LAPD has not officially confirmed this. 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 not intended to hinder transparency but to safeguard the integrity of the police inquiry, which is being conducted by detectives from the robbery homicide division. Bland stated, “It was put in place so that our investigators can access the information before it reaches the media and the public.”
Dr. Odey Ukpo, the chief medical examiner, expressed that such security holds are uncommon in other counties within California. Ukpo emphasized the office’s commitment to transparency but noted that legal constraints prevent disclosure while the court order is in effect.
The medical examiner’s office previously reported that Rivas Hernandez’s body was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating she had likely been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period before being found in September. The teen was last seen in April 2024 in Lake Elsinore, where she grew up, approximately 95 kilometers southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
D4vd, known for blending indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop, gained popularity among Gen Z. He achieved viral success on TikTok in 2022 with the track “Romantic Homicide,” reaching No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Following this, he signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records, releasing his debut EP “Petals to Thorns” and a subsequent album, “The Lost Petals,” in 2023.
The artist had been on tour for his first full-length album, “Withered,” when the discovery of Rivas Hernandez’s body was made. Consequently, his remaining North American shows, including performances in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and an appearance at the Grammy Museum in L.A., were canceled. Additionally, his upcoming European tour, scheduled to commence in Norway on October 1, was also called off.