After months of speculation and delays, officials in the United States have confirmed that the teen girl discovered in singer D4vd’s car died from “multiple penetrating injuries”.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office on Wednesday ruled Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death a homicide, stating that the 14-year-old died from injuries inflicted by an unspecified object or objects.
Her body was found in the front boot of a Tesla registered to TikTok star D4vd, 21, in September. The singer is now facing multiple charges linked to her death, including murder.
D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has entered a not guilty plea. His legal team maintains that he did not cause the teenager’s death and says it will “vigorously defend his innocence”.
“The actual evidence will show that David did not kill Celeste,” his attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said in a statement to the BBC. “We will vigorously defend David’s innocence,” they added.
Burke is scheduled to appear again in a Los Angeles court on Thursday at 0830 local time (1630 BST).
Investigators had completed their initial examination of Rivas Hernandez’s remains shortly after she was discovered in September and determined both cause and manner of death on 9 December, but the findings were not released publicly due to the ongoing police investigation.
Prosecutors allege the teenager was killed and her body dismembered around 5 May 2025, according to court documents—months before she was eventually found.
“After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss,” Chief Medical Examiner Dr Odey Ukpo said.
“It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter,” he added, noting his earlier criticism of the delay in releasing the findings.
According to the medical examiner’s report obtained by the BBC, stab wounds were found on the girl’s abdomen and chest during the autopsy.
The report also noted shredded blue plastic material embedded in some of the injuries, and stated her body was discovered inside a black zippered bag in the Tesla’s front trunk.
A toxicology analysis detected methamphetamine or MDMA and a low level of alcohol in her system, though investigators said these substances did not contribute to her death.
The family of Rivas Hernandez issued their first public statement this week following Burke’s arraignment on Monday.
“Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together,” her parents Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez said in a statement.
“We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is Justice for Celeste.”
Family attorney Patrick Steinfeld told the BBC that the relatives were “devastated after hearing the gruesome details that came out in David Burke’s arraignment”.
At a press briefing, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the teenager had visited Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence on 23 April 2025 and “she was never heard from again”.
“A parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back,” Hochman said.
Her family had reported her missing in April, but her remains were not discovered until September. More than seven months later, Burke was arrested and charged in Los Angeles.
The artist, known for tracks such as Romantic Homicide and Here With Me, had largely withdrawn from public view after the discovery of the body. His tour was cancelled and several brand partnerships were reportedly terminated.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell defended the pace of the investigation on Monday, saying, “I want to be clear about something. My duty is not to fuel speculation. It’s to deliver justice, and that requires patience and discipline on everybody’s part,” he said.
“This investigation was driven by a single purpose to secure justice for Celeste Rivas and for those who loved her. We had to be certain that nothing we did or said would ever jeopardise this case.”
He explained that the condition of the remains, combined with the time lapse between death and discovery, complicated forensic analysis as evidence had degraded.
District Attorney Hochman also acknowledged the challenges in the case, citing the need to interview multiple witnesses and assess varying levels of cooperation.
“It’s the type of case that you went to get maximum information,” he said, urging anyone with additional details to come forward.
