THE 15-year-old who was found dead in the trunk of singer D4vd’s car allegedly struck up a worrying relationship with him years earlier, and her family begged police for help.
Celeste Rivas’ body was found on September 8 after workers at a Hollywood tow yard detected a foul smell coming from a Tesla.
Singer D4vd is reportedly cooperating with authorities after the body was discovered[/caption]
The victim was found in singer D4vd’s Tesla has been identified as Celeste Rivas[/caption]
Celeste’s remains were found after a foul smell was detected coming from the Tesla in a tow yard in Hollywood[/caption]
The home of Celeste Rivas’ family, who declined to comment on the case on Wednesday[/caption]
Her decomposing corpse was found bagged and stuffed inside the car that was registered to New York-born singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke.
The singer is said to be cooperating with authorities, and has not been arrested or charged.
Police reportedly searched a home in Hollywood Hills this week that the singer had been staying at but does not own, according to ABC News.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Burke and the LAPD for comment on the case, but did not hear back.
The case is being investigated as a homicide, and the cause of death was listed as “deferred,” according to authorities.
Celeste was initially reported missing in April 2024, and her family made social media posts asking for help to find the teenager, although they later went quiet.
Photographs of Celeste and Burke together have since emerged on Reddit from social media, and now a family source claims the pair were together around the time she disappeared.
The source, who is close to Celeste’s mother, Mercedes Martinez, told The U.S. Sun they are all “devastated” over the teen’s death and claim they begged police for help.
The insider, speaking in Spanish, said the family was aware of Celeste’s relationship with Burke.
The source said, “I still don’t know a lot, but I don’t understand why the police didn’t do more.
“For a period, Celeste came back home by herself and stayed with her mom, but the police weren’t involved.
“Why didn’t they ask her, ‘Where were you? Are you okay?’
“I don’t know when she came back, but then she disappeared again and went back to him.
“I know someone called her mom and said, ‘stop looking for her, she’s fine’.
“They told the family to take down the social media posts about her being missing.”
It is not known who the alleged caller was or whether they were connected to D4vd in any way.
The source said they themselves took down a post asking for help as they were scared the situation was out of hand.
The insider was sickened to hear of the gruesome details reported about Celeste’s death and said they are desperate for justice.
FAMILY HURT
Celeste leaves behind her parents, Mercedes and Jesus; a brother, Matthew; and a half-sister, Jennifer.
The U.S. Sun has made multiple attempts to reach her family.
Rivas’ brother told NBCLA that the family knew she was dating the singer and claimed she ran off with him in 2024 after he regularly picked her up in the same Tesla her body was found in.
The U.S. Sun’s source, who has known Celeste since she was a baby, sobbed as they described the teen as a “very happy girl.”
They said, “It hurts me a lot because I basically saw her grow up. She would often come and visit.
“She did well in school, studied a lot. She was very mature for her age. She would help her mom, and she was great with children.”
Sources claimed to the Daily Mail that Rivas’ relationship with the singer was an open secret, and she had been skipping classes at Lakeland Middle School before she vanished in 2024.
It is not known when or how Rivas and Burke first connected, but they are believed to have been hanging out when she was at least 13.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The U.S. Sun on Thursday that deputies were dispatched to the house in Lake Elsinore on April 5, 2024 at 9.47 pm, regarding the report of a runaway.
“Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the reporting party who advised the female juvenile had left the location in an unknown direction,” they said.
“Deputies conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate the female juvenile.
“The female was entered into the missing person database as a runaway, and the report was forwarded to investigators for follow-up. The investigation remained ongoing.”
They say on September 17, 2025, the Riverside Sheriff’s Office received notification from the Los Angeles Police Department that the missing female identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez had been located and was identified as the victim of a death investigation.
The U.S. Sun further asked if there was ever a press conference or media alert regarding the missing teen, but did not hear back.
Rivas’ family has since launched a GoFundMe, writing, “As many of you know, Celeste Rivas Hernandez has been identified as the body found last week.
“She was a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend.”
The statement continued, “Her family is heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss. They are seeking help to lay her body to rest. Any funds you are able to donate are greatly appreciated.”
Rivas’ mom told TMZ she had been in a relationship with someone called David.
The musician has returned to Los Angeles after canceling Wednesday’s show in Seattle, but has not yet commented on Celeste’s death.
In one leaked song from 2023, the artist, 20, fantasized about someone called Celeste, and another one of his tracks is titled Romantic Homicide.
Celeste was last seen in April 2024[/caption]
One of which is titled: “Celeste (read desc).”
And, in the track, Burke appeared to proclaim his love for Celeste.
“Oh, Celeste,” the star sings.
“The girl with my name tattooed on her chest.
“Smell her on my clothes like cigarettes. I hear her voice each time I take a breath. I’m obsessed.”
Burke mentioned Celeste again in the second verse, singing: “Oh, Celeste.
“Afraid you’ll only love me when undressed.
“But you look so damn gorgeous in that dress.
“Missing you so much makes me depressed. But I digress, because.”
Celeste went missing from her family home in Lake Elsinore – around 69 miles from Los Angeles – in April 2024.
Fliers show she was last seen wearing gray pants, a black sweater, a hat, and Hello Kitty sandals.
One neighbor near the family’s home in Lake Elsinore told The U.S. Sun they were stunned to hear she was missing, as they had not heard anything from the family or police.
“I was wondering why there were so many news trucks outside,” she said on Wednesday.
“I think I recognize the missing persons flyer from a long time ago, but then it was taken down.
“Nobody ever came to our house, which is strange. We’d not heard anything about it.
“It’s a very quiet neighborhood. I’ve been here for many years. I haven’t seen the family out or anything.
“It’s horrible to hear what has happened. I have a daughter. I have to keep an eye on her. I can’t imagine how they are feeling.”
Celeste Rivas has been described as a ‘very happy’ and ‘mature’ girl who will be missed by her family[/caption]
Celeste’s mom said her daughter was dating someone called David[/caption]
