BREAKING: Body of 15-Year-Old Girl Identified as Celeste Rivas — Found in Tesla Associated with Singer d4vd; Social Media Erupts Over “Violent” Clip and Comments Reposted by Artist
Los Angeles — A week after a Tesla was towed into a Hollywood parking lot because of a foul odor, investigators have identified the body found in the front trunk as that of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teen who went missing from the Lake Elsinore area in 2024. The identification and condition of the body — decomposed — were confirmed to the press by the medical examiner’s office.
Los Angeles police are leading the investigation, gathering evidence at a Hollywood Hills apartment after executing a search warrant related to the car’s registered owner. Law enforcement sources say electronic devices and computers have been seized for analysis, but so far no one has been arrested or publicly charged; the artist is reportedly “cooperating with authorities.”
News of the victim’s identity immediately sparked a media firestorm: family, local residents, and the online community were flooded with emotions ranging from grief to outrage. In an exclusive report, Celeste’s mother told reporters that her daughter “had a boyfriend named David” — a detail that drew attention online to a potential connection between the victim and the famous artist. The information was first reported by TMZ and then spread.
TMZ
From “joking” to proof? d4vd’s old social media posts — including clips he had reposted — were dug up by netizens. One of the shocking clips — cited by entertainment media — shows a scene of eating/cutting chicken with a caption like “Me if I see her talk with other dudes,” along with several videos of violent scenes from movies that were previously shared on the artist’s account. These contents, which could be interpreted as dark wordplay or “parody,” are now being brought into the debate: are the posts valuable evidence in an investigation or just a reflection of an artistic style?
The public reaction was extreme and swift. In Lake Elsinore, people held candlelight vigils, left flowers, and called for “justice for Celeste.” Hashtags calling for boycotts and investigations circulated on social media, and groups of people defended the artist, warning against “jumping to conclusions” before formal charges were filed. For the industry, the consequences were immediate: many tours were canceled or removed from ticketing systems; brands that had collaborated with d4vd paused or removed promotional content related to him. Official information from AP and specialized newspapers confirmed that the artist’s tour schedule and promotional activities were affected.
This opens up a deep legal and ethical knot. First, investigators today use social media as a data warehouse: comments, shared videos, messages and metadata can all be extracted to serve the investigation. However, criminal lawyers remind the press and the public of an important principle: do not equate “shocking posts” with evidence of a crime — technical verification and a chain of physical evidence are needed to convict. Many legal experts also warn: public pressure can affect the way investigations are handled, distorting the perception of fairness. (News reports point out that authorities have not yet determined a cause of death; the medical examiner’s report lists “deferred”—no cause of death immediately determined—in the initial report.)
On the other hand, the case points to the real-world consequences of “violent icon culture” online: when words, parodies, or “dark fictional” characters are spread by influential people, they can be misinterpreted, used as a tool for personal attacks, or—more seriously—become evidence in a criminal prosecution. Social media platforms, brands, and labels face the question: how should they respond when an artist is depicted in publicly shared violent content that is later linked to a real-life case?
The LAPD is urging anyone with information to come forward; the Robbery-Homicide Division continues to track down contacts and analyze data collected. While the public debates and rumors spread, one thing is clear: Celeste’s family is waiting for an explanation and a promise of “justice” — and the entertainment industry, online platforms, and the law are facing the difficult question of where to draw the line between art, symbolism, and actual crime.
