The name Celeste Rivas Hernandez has now become the center of a heartbreaking story that stretches from her quiet community in Lake Elsinore to Los Angeles, where her body was discovered inside the car of rising musician d4vd.
Celeste was just 15 years old. She was reported missing on April 5, 2024, by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, sparking months of fear, searching, and unanswered questions for her loved ones. For five months, her family lived in limbo, hoping she would return home.
That hope was shattered on Sept. 8, when authorities investigating a foul odor from an impounded Tesla found Celeste deceased in the vehicle.
The car, registered to 20-year-old singer David Anthony Burke—better known by his stage name d4vd—has now become a key piece of evidence in an ongoing LAPD homicide investigation.
A Girl With a Life Ahead of Her
Celeste was remembered by her family as a vibrant daughter, sister, cousin, and friend—someone whose presence lit up family gatherings and whose absence now leaves a hole that cannot be filled.
“She was loved deeply, and she will never be forgotten,” her family wrote on a GoFundMe campaign titled Help Lay Celeste Rivas Hernandez to Rest. The fundraiser, launched after her body was identified, seeks to cover funeral expenses for her service scheduled for Oct. 5.
The Long Months of Waiting
When Celeste was first reported missing, her family had no answers. Lake Elsinore authorities logged her as a juvenile disappearance, a category of case that too often fades from public headlines. Yet her family never stopped holding out hope.
The confirmation of her death months later has added another layer of anguish: not just that she is gone, but the devastating way she was found.
The Investigation Unfolds
The LAPD has since confirmed that detectives from its Robbery-Homicide Division served a search warrant connected to Celeste’s death. Several pieces of evidence were collected and are now under review.
Police have not revealed whether Celeste had any direct relationship with d4vd, whose music career took off in 2022 with his viral single Romantic Homicide. The singer, who was on tour when Celeste was found, has not spoken publicly, though his representatives said he is “fully cooperating” with authorities.
Investigators remain cautious with details, saying only that they are pursuing “several leads” and awaiting forensic analysis of the evidence recovered.
Remembering Celeste
For her family, the investigation offers little comfort in the face of an unbearable loss. What they want most is for Celeste to be remembered for who she was, not just for the circumstances of her death.
She was 15—a teenager with friends, dreams, and a future still unwritten. Her life was interrupted in ways no parent, sibling, or relative should ever have to endure.
The grief surrounding her story has resonated with many online, where strangers have contributed to her memorial fund and expressed heartbreak over the tragedy.
As her funeral approaches, Celeste’s name is becoming more than a headline in a criminal investigation—it is a reminder of the fragility of youth, the dangers that young people face, and the importance of never letting their stories fade into silence.
Links with d4vd
According to TMZ, D4vd and the teen victim had matching “Shhh…” tattoos on their right index fingers. They also spoke to Hernandez’s mother, who said her daughter had been dating someone called David.
The “Shhh…” tattoo was popularised by Rihanna in 2008, and other celebrities, including Lindsay Lohan, also have it on their fingers.
A song called “Celeste” posted on SoundCloud and credited to D4vd was leaked in 2023, The Sun reports.
