The mystery surrounding the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez has taken another dramatic turn as a private investigator and the LAPD push back against a wave of disturbing, unverified claims circulating online.
Celeste, who went missing after leaving her family’s home in Lake Elsinore in April 2024, was found dead on September 8 inside an impounded Tesla linked to musician D4vd (David Anthony Burke). Her body was discovered just a day after what would have been her 15th birthday, Daily Mail reported.
In the days after the discovery, detectives searched Burke’s Hollywood Hills rental home and collected several items, but gave no details about what was found.
Online speculation spiralled after anonymous sources claimed Celeste’s remains were in an alarming condition. However, private investigator Steve Fischer — hired by the landlord of Burke’s rental — told Daily Mail that his independent review found no evidence backing any of those claims.
According to Fischer, the home’s freezer still had shelves and old food items, and tests for traces of violence inside the property came back negative. He noted he found nothing confirming that a violent crime happened inside the home.
LAPD officials also stepped forward to shut down the viral rumours.
Captain Scot Williams stated that reports suggesting extreme alterations to the body were false, calling the claims “baseless” and “impossible,” especially given how long the vehicle had been sitting outside.
Amid the confusion, the LAPD secured a court order stopping the LA County Medical Examiner from releasing Celeste’s autopsy results or any related documents. The case has also been temporarily removed from the public database.
The Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Odey Ukpo, responded with a statement highlighting the department’s usual commitment to transparency but acknowledged they are legally restricted until the court lifts the order.
LAPD officials told the Los Angeles Times that the hold is necessary to allow investigators to review medical findings before the public.
For now, the LAPD has not publicly named any suspects, but PEOPLE reports that detectives are still treating Burke as a person of interest internally and say he has not cooperated with investigators. He has also not given any public statement.
Sources say detectives are still trying to determine how Celeste died, when she died, and who may have been involved. There are also questions about whether multiple people handled the vehicle or knew about its movements.
Investigators are reviewing hours of surveillance footage to track the Tesla’s last known locations. According to Fischer, the vehicle — scratched and covered in mud — was last moved on July 29 by a driver he has identified but has chosen not to name publicly.
The car was eventually towed from Doheny Place and Bluebird Avenue in early September, shortly before Celeste’s remains were found inside.
