CA- Body (IDd as Celeste Rivas Hernandez) found in vehicle at Hollywood tow yard, abandoned Tesla registered to singer D4vd – 8 September 2025

[HinterlandObserver]

Cargo Volume​

I'm not a professional of any kind, but I've read a bunch of books by forensic anthropologists, both autobiographical and fiction, and watched a lot of CSI. Even bones of a body buried straight in the ground will have an odour when it's been long enough there's no flesh remaining. Eventually, they'll just smell like dirt, but it takes years.

This girl was dismembered, wrapped in plastic, then put in a compartment of a car in the LA sun. It's really not a surprise that a visual identification was impossible. What is a surprise is that there wasn't a cop call-out about the smell within a week. This was a nice area, not run down or light industrial or waste ground, where an odour might not be out of place. In a nice suburb, a bad odour is bound to annoy someone at minimum, or make someone concerned for the welfare of a neighbour.

MOO

Depending on weather, residents may have windows up in vehicles for air con or heating, and also homes closed up for the same reasons, possibly delaying the potential realisation of a smell?

I'm late onto this thread so not sure if it's been discussed yet but I thought I'd run past you all:

According to teslas site, the volume of the front trunk of the x model is 6.5 cubic ft.

Cargo Volume​

Area	Volume (liters)	Volume (cubic ft)
Front trunk	183	6.5

Table 1. 5-Seater Cargo Volumes

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modelx/en_gb/GUID-91E5877F-3CD2-4B3B-B2B8-B5DB4A6C0A05.html#:~:text=Table_title:%20Cargo%20Volume%20Table_content:%20header:%20%7C%20Area,425%20%7C%20Volume%20(cubic%20ft):%2015%20%7C

And on this page it mentions

WARNING
People should never climb inside the front trunk. Never shut the front trunk when a person is inside.

CAUTION
Never load more than 110 lbs (50 kg) in the front trunk. Doing so can cause damage.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modelx/en_gb/GUID-356E0168-47E5-400F-AD83-4F1B86C7D991.html

This video on YouTube physically measures it at 1min26sec. Dimensions are approximately
47inches across the back
32inches across the front
17inches deep
With a small extra allowance at the front.

The creators actually jumped in to try out the interior emergency release, it's surprisingly a lot bigger than I expected.

Google

This article says "The girl was described as...5 feet 2 inches tall, and weighing 71 pounds"

(That's only about 32kg, surely that's not right!?)

Body of teen found in D4vd's impounded Tesla is Celeste Rivas, missing girl from Lake Elsinore | abc7ny.com

Celeste%20Rivas%2C%2015%2C%20was%20identified%20by%20the%20Los%20Angeles%20County%20medical%20examiner's%20office.%20The%20cause%20of%20death%20was%20listed%20as%20%22deferred.%22

abc7ny.com

According to this site the moderate weight for 5ft2in (62inches) is 104-131lbs (approx 47-59kg). That's quite a discrepancy to her listed weight. If accurate, incredibly unhealthy.

How much should I weigh for my height and age? BMI calculator & chart

What is a person’s ideal weight, and how do height, age, and other factors affect it? Find out more and use our tools to get a better idea of weight measurements.

www.medicalnewstoday.com

I'm intrigued to know what kind of damage may be caused if over 50kg is placed in the frunk. Would it prevent the car being moved independently?

And why dismember her if true, the YouTube video shows she would have fit in the frunk?

MOO IMOO

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Cargo Volume​

Depending on weather, residents may have windows up in vehicles for air con or heating, and also homes closed up for the same reasons, possibly delaying the potential realisation of a smell?

I'm late onto this thread so not sure if it's been discussed yet but I thought I'd run past you all:

According to teslas site, the volume of the front trunk of the x model is 6.5 cubic ft.

Cargo Volume​

Area	Volume (liters)	Volume (cubic ft)
Front trunk	183	6.5

Table 1. 5-Seater Cargo Volumes

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modelx/en_gb/GUID-91E5877F-3CD2-4B3B-B2B8-B5DB4A6C0A05.html#:~:text=Table_title:%20Cargo%20Volume%20Table_content:%20header:%20%7C%20Area,425%20%7C%20Volume%20(cubic%20ft):%2015%20%7C

And on this page it mentions

WARNING
People should never climb inside the front trunk. Never shut the front trunk when a person is inside.

CAUTION
Never load more than 110 lbs (50 kg) in the front trunk. Doing so can cause damage.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modelx/en_gb/GUID-356E0168-47E5-400F-AD83-4F1B86C7D991.html

This video on YouTube physically measures it at 1min26sec. Dimensions are approximately
47inches across the back
32inches across the front
17inches deep
With a small extra allowance at the front.

The creators actually jumped in to try out the interior emergency release, it's surprisingly a lot bigger than I expected.

Google

This article says "The girl was described as...5 feet 2 inches tall, and weighing 71 pounds"

(That's only about 32kg, surely that's not right!?)

Body of teen found in D4vd's impounded Tesla is Celeste Rivas, missing girl from Lake Elsinore | abc7ny.com

Celeste%20Rivas%2C%2015%2C%20was%20identified%20by%20the%20Los%20Angeles%20County%20medical%20examiner's%20office.%20The%20cause%20of%20death%20was%20listed%20as%20%22deferred.%22

abc7ny.com

According to this site the moderate weight for 5ft2in (62inches) is 104-131lbs (approx 47-59kg). That's quite a discrepancy to her listed weight. If accurate, incredibly unhealthy.

How much should I weigh for my height and age? BMI calculator & chart

What is a person’s ideal weight, and how do height, age, and other factors affect it? Find out more and use our tools to get a better idea of weight measurements.

www.medicalnewstoday.com

I'm intrigued to know what kind of damage may be caused if over 50kg is placed in the frunk. Would it prevent the car being moved independently?

And why dismember her if true, the YouTube video shows she would have fit in the frunk?

MOO IMOO

Welcome!
I believe her weight was estimated due to her being dismembered, and some confusion as to whether all her body parts were there. :-(

 

[HinterlandObserver]

Welcome!
I believe her weight was estimated due to her being dismembered, and some confusion as to whether all her body parts were there. :-(

Thank you for the response.

I find it very interesting there seems to be confusion about whether she was dismembered or it was part of the natural decomposition process. The weight would surely be an indicator that limbs were missing?
I just found this very good video by news nation on YouTube explaining a lot if you're interested.

I guess we just have to wait for the next facts to be released.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Thank you for the response.

I find it very interesting there seems to be confusion about whether she was dismembered or it was part of the natural decomposition process. The weight would surely be an indicator that limbs were missing?
I just found this very good video by news nation on YouTube explaining a lot if you're interested.

I guess we just have to wait for the next facts to be released.

I may be recalling it wrong, but I thought it was initially reported that only her head and torso were found. There was mention of her wearing a black tube top, yet also black leggings, which would indicate at least part of her lower body was found. Then there was also talk of the "shhh" tattoo on her hand, which would suggest at least part of her arms were found too. I guess we'll know more in time.

 

[indicolite22]

I do wonder about the neighbourhood - there do seem to be other cars parked on the streets around there so I imagine they are driven and therefore there is some foot traffic getting to/from them. However, it's a rich area, so I imagine safety and security is paramount. Properties would likely have garages and many people may not wander the streets, nor ever be seen on the streets. Get into your car in the garage, and drive out of your property, repeat when you get home. Is the area fairly flat? Would people be walking/running along the streets for either exercise or walking dogs? Are there any shops within walking distance? I don't know how big these homes are, but could they be set mostly well back off the street, not within smelling distance?

Regardless of when Celeste's body started to smell, there's been no mention of the Department of Transport worker(s) who attended the vehicle 3 days in a row before deeming it "abandoned", having smelt anything untoward. Same for the tow truck driver. It only really came to light a few days after being at the impound lot. Maybe it was only really potent when the wind blew, or on a hot day. What's the weather been like lately in that area? Regardless, I'm hoping that a rough time of death can be determined so that the case can move forward.

I wonder when the body was placed in the car - surely not three weeks earlier (BBM):

It has also been reported by Rolling Stone that sources in the neighbourhood where the Tesla was parked that the car was seen in various places over the past few months. It was reportedly left in its final spot on Bluebird Avenue for about three weeks, and before then was parked a few blocks away as far back as May.

Body in D4vd’s Tesla reportedly identified as teen as sources say his car was spotted in neighbourhood last May

Authorities in California have reportedly identified the teenager who was found dead in an impounded car registered to D4vd.

www.nme.com

Proximity of David's rented house to the car location:

The house on Doheny Place is reportedly only around 500 feet (143meters) from the parking spot on Bluebird Avenue, where the singer’s Tesla was abandoned.

D4vd linked to home that police searched after body was found inside a Tesla under his name

D4vd was reportedly staying in the home that LA Police searched in connection to a missing girl, whose body was found in the boot of his car.

www.nme.com

There are high hedges on both streets on Google Street View. Pic below: Getty Images

 

[flowershop]

In the Steve Fischer interview with Ashleigh Banfield they say that the Tesla (which is a Model X despite previous reports saying it was a Model Y) was parked on Bloomberg St. Just 150 feet away from the house d4vd was living at. There was a previous report that said it smelled like there was a dead animal in the area.

D4vd’s Tesla tow report sheds new light on Celeste investigation

Celeste Rivas-Hernandez’s body was found in the trunk of a Tesla Model X registered to viral singer D4vd on Sept. 8.

www.newsnationnow.com

I cannot edit my post but I misheard the street name in the video. It had to be Bluebird, not Bloomberg.

 

[10ofRods]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> the tow yard is well within the zone where there are breezes/winds and that disperses smell a lot. It also depends on the "nose" of the observer.

Once you've smelled human decomp, you don't forget it, but if you aren't aware of the kind of smell it is, you will just think it's an "awful" smell. Outside the Tesla, it's possible the strength of the smell might be like having a dead animal decomposing under your house or in your yard.

<modsnip> ... my understanding is that the Tesla trunk is pretty airtight and we've had some very warm weather in L.A. in August and early September. I've watched cars being towed by impound and the tow truck driver just backs up to it, puts a hook from his winch on the undercarriage of the car and drags it up onto the bed of his truck. They're often talking on the phone while they do it (my cousin runs a similar business, they're always arranging the next call). Entirely believable that if the body had desiccated some, the driver might not have gotten a strong sense of it.

I guess I read too many Michael Connelly novels, but I sometimes wonder if some of these drivers (even if suspicious) would prefer to ignore their senses than to get involved.

Another factor in all this (I'm going to hide it, so don't click if you want to avoid discussion of awful details):

Spoiler: Not for the squeamish: crime details

The body was dismembered. The first thing I'd want to know as an investigator is WHERE did that dismemberment happen and HOW LONG AFTER Death. If it occurred very soon after the victim's death, there would be lots of blood at the site of the dismemberment, enough that any forensic investigation of the murder site would reveal lots of blood. However, if the body had already begun substantial decomp before being dismembered, not a lot of blood at the dismemberment site - cadaver smell instead, which of course, dogs would detect.

So investigators would want to know which they were dealing with (and should know by now). On to the reason for dismemberment: to me it seems obvious that the dismemberment occurred so that the victim could be fit into the Tesla's - or some other - trunk. It will be quite clear to the coroner just how far along decomp was when these horrific acts were performed upon the victim's body. The type of tools used in that dismemberment should also be known and I'm guessing search warrants have been sent out, though likely sealed.

It seems unlikely to me that Celeste died any place other than near or inside of Burke's rental house in Los Angeles. Is it possible she died of a drug overdose, in her room, and was not noticed for a period of time? Sure. Could the number of people going in and out of the house and the hectic schedule of the victim's travels/lifestyle have allowed her to lie in that house for hours or even days after her death? Possibly. Could some of the people involved quietly quitted the house and gotten as far away from the scene as possible? Sure.

One thing is certain. The Medical Examiner will know if she died of a drug overdose. Unfortunately, it may be a few months till the toxicology report comes back due to the view that cases are to be handled FCFS. The rich or famous are not going to get to the head of the line. Indeed, if any of this crime comes back to Burke himself or his inner circle, those people are not going anywhere, I'm sure LE has them under surveillance.

My main point is that, even if she did die of self-caused drug ingestion, the concealment of the body and the various parts of the crime scene related to the dismemberment and packaging of the body should be quickly identified. I can envision a scenario in which the house did *not* have a lot of people going in and out. I can also picture a scenario in which, upon discovering that Celeste was dead or after her murder if she was murdered, the principals in this story just up and left the house. That accounts for the Tesla being unmoved for so many days.

In other words, the body will tell much of this story. If she was beaten, shot or stabbed and died as a result, there is a place inside that house where it happened and the body and the scene will tell the story. Blood splatter, attempts at cleaning, etc. If the house went quiet while that Tesla sat waiting to be impounded, the cameras nearby will show it. That would cast a wide net.

Sorry for that long bit of spoiler. My memory is not working this morning - do we have a date upon which Celeste was last known to be alive?

In my opinion, with a lot of educated guesses thrown in.

 

[indicolite22]

I may be recalling it wrong, but I thought it was initially reported that only her head and torso were found. There was mention of her wearing a black tube top, yet also black leggings, which would indicate at least part of her lower body was found. Then there was also talk of the "shhh" tattoo on her hand, which would suggest at least part of her arms were found too. I guess we'll know more in time.

Head and torso were mentioned initially. Perhaps her limbs were folded. The medical examiner also gave a height estimate:

The medical examiner said that the woman was 5 feet 2 and 71 pounds

Initially, the remains were described as a “head and torso.”

Remains of 2 women found in cars investigated as homicides; L.A. authorities reveal new details

Human remains were found in the trunk of a Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard Monday afternoon, according to authorities. Another body was found in a Honda in a different tow yard.

www.latimes.com

 

[indicolite22]

The singer's rented house was actually on Vireo Drive, which is parallel to Bluebird Avenue, where the car was found. The house has since been blurred on Google Street View.

A black Tesla that resembles the impounded car can be seen in a Google Street View image taken outside the house on Doheny Place, also referred to as Vireo Drive, in May 2024. It's not clear if this is the same vehicle, as the license plate is blurred out.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/d4vd-leaves-hollywood-mansion-21067377.php

House in the bottom right corner (image: Google Maps):

 

[Gemmie]

So investigators would want to know which they were dealing with (and should know by now). On to the reason for dismemberment: to me it seems obvious that the dismemberment occurred so that the victim could be fit into the Tesla's - or some other - trunk.

SBMFF

I think she could have fit without needing to be dismembered. Which then begs the question... so why was she dismembered?

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modelx/en_kr/GUID-91E5877F-3CD2-4B3B-B2B8-B5DB4A6C0A05.html

6.5 cubic feet is a relatively small but still significant amount of space, often represented by a compact freezer or a small upright appliance, roughly measuring about 21–23 inches wide, 22–23 inches deep, and 55–58 inches tall.

SOURCE

 

[10ofRods]

I do wonder about the neighbourhood - there do seem to be other cars parked on the streets around there so I imagine they are driven and therefore there is some foot traffic getting to/from them. However, it's a rich area, so I imagine safety and security is paramount. Properties would likely have garages and many people may not wander the streets, nor ever be seen on the streets. Get into your car in the garage, and drive out of your property, repeat when you get home. Is the area fairly flat? Would people be walking/running along the streets for either exercise or walking dogs? Are there any shops within walking distance? I don't know how big these homes are, but could they be set mostly well back off the street, not within smelling distance?

Regardless of when Celeste's body started to smell, there's been no mention of the Department of Transport worker(s) who attended the vehicle 3 days in a row before deeming it "abandoned", having smelt anything untoward. Same for the tow truck driver. It only really came to light a few days after being at the impound lot. Maybe it was only really potent when the wind blew, or on a hot day. What's the weather been like lately in that area? Regardless, I'm hoping that a rough time of death can be determined so that the case can move forward.

Area is not completely flat. The entire neighborhood is in the hills. Bluebird goes uphill toward Doheny at a small incline (these are hilltops that were somewhat sheared off to build houses). So it's not steep, but it's not flat like the street I live on.

Where I live, the people who mark abandoned cars start with Day 1 chalk marks, made by chalk that's on some kind of pole. Day 2, they sometimes put the day and month, but they use a system either of colored chalk or symbols to make it clear it's the second day. Day 3 has another symbol or color. After that, they call the tow yard.

I've read that this Tesla hadn't moved for a couple of weeks before being chalked up. They usually mark the rear wheels (because those don't turn and the front wheels may be at an angle - the point is that they need to see quickly that they've already marked it and when). So they would have been briefly out of their own parking patrol car, near the back of the Tesla (away from its trunk). When they do it in my neighborhood, it's less than 30 seconds, I'd say, out of the car. On Day 3 in some neighborhoods, they also put a brightly colored notice under the wiper blade (which would be toward the front of the car).

LADOT manages all of this and has a huge number of compliance cars out on the roads every day. Would be fascinating to know if it was the same person doing that route that marked it before it was towed.

Towed August 28 or thereabouts - IIRC.

Burke (D4) was in L.A. until at least August 6 and my hunch is he didn't leave for the East Coast until August 15-17 (do we know? He performed in New York on the 18th).

Those of you collecting dates for this case - thank you so much! If anyone has a chronology for alleged sightings of Celeste, that would be great.

IMO

 

[acutename]

I do wonder about the neighbourhood - there do seem to be other cars parked on the streets around there so I imagine they are driven and therefore there is some foot traffic getting to/from them. However, it's a rich area, so I imagine safety and security is paramount. Properties would likely have garages and many people may not wander the streets, nor ever be seen on the streets. Get into your car in the garage, and drive out of your property, repeat when you get home. Is the area fairly flat? Would people be walking/running along the streets for either exercise or walking dogs? Are there any shops within walking distance? I don't know how big these homes are, but could they be set mostly well back off the street, not within smelling distance?

Regardless of when Celeste's body started to smell, there's been no mention of the Department of Transport worker(s) who attended the vehicle 3 days in a row before deeming it "abandoned", having smelt anything untoward. Same for the tow truck driver. It only really came to light a few days after being at the impound lot. Maybe it was only really potent when the wind blew, or on a hot day. What's the weather been like lately in that area? Regardless, I'm hoping that a rough time of death can be determined so that the case can move forward.

hot summer in LA I believe- like 100F and very dry, so not a lot of people outside. Some people theorized that during the tow, whatever container (bag?) CR was in broke or leaked. Not much experience with dead humans, however there are often dead deer near me- sometimes they expand and burst and smell for a long time (6 mos+) but other times they dry out and vultures help, I guess, so the smell is attenuated.

 

[10ofRods]

Thank you for the response.

I find it very interesting there seems to be confusion about whether she was dismembered or it was part of the natural decomposition process. The weight would surely be an indicator that limbs were missing?
I just found this very good video by news nation on YouTube explaining a lot if you're interested.

I guess we just have to wait for the next facts to be released.

72 lbs is probably the weight of the remains. Since we've been discussing decomp and desiccation, I'd add that in LA's climate (pretty hot and dry in August), the amount of H2O in a human body would be gone quickly. Water is 50-70% of the body's weight. The trunk would have been similar to keeping remains in a cooler - it would be more humid inside the trunk than outside, so let's just guess that half the water weight from the body was gone.

That could mean that the victim weighed 100-115 in life. Or more. At least 102-105, I'd guess. The Medical Examiner has apps that autocalculate some of this based on weather, conditions inside the container of the body, etc.

I think there is definitely confusion about whether she was dismembered or simply subject to the natural decomp process. To an observer who hasn't seen lots of bodies put into trunks, this could look like dismemberment. I read that she was wrapped in plastic. Can't find the original source of the "dismemberment" part.

 

[Gemmie]

72 lbs is probably the weight of the remains. Since we've been discussing decomp and desiccation, I'd add that in LA's climate (pretty hot and dry in August), the amount of H2O in a human body would be gone quickly. Water is 50-70% of the body's weight. The trunk would have been similar to keeping remains in a cooler - it would be more humid inside the trunk than outside, so let's just guess that half the water weight from the body was gone.

That could mean that the victim weighed 100-115 in life. Or more. At least 102-105, I'd guess. The Medical Examiner has apps that autocalculate some of this based on weather, conditions inside the container of the body, etc.

I think there is definitely confusion about whether she was dismembered or simply subject to the natural decomp process. To an observer who hasn't seen lots of bodies put into trunks, this could look like dismemberment. I read that she was wrapped in plastic. Can't find the original source of the "dismemberment" part.

Pretty darn close! Celeste was 120 lbs according to her missing poster from ~1.5 yrs ago.

Body found in D4vd’s impounded Tesla identified — victim was a teen reported missing over a year ago | The Express Tribune

Authorities identified decomposed body found in D4vd’s car as missing 15-year-old Celeste Rivas from Lake Elsinore.

tribune.com.pk

 

[10ofRods]

Did she lie about being a college student or did d4vd make up a lie and told her to roll with it

Apparently, she had several fake ID's, as any 14 year old would if they were going to places for 18 and over. I assume that Burke and his crew helped her obtain these, but there are many ways to get them. In Downtown L.A. there are people on the streets who can be approached and will guide the process of getting a fake ID. Getting a fake student ID (forged student ID) is super easy. Costs only about $50 (sometimes less, according to my students).

Every time she used a fake college ID, she was basically lying. I think I'd call this a joint lie by a couple who was very concerned about both the age gap and her actual age.

 

[HinterlandObserver]

Harvey Levin from TMZ discussed it on his podcast with a lot of local knowledge, so if you're interested go check out "2 angry men" for that.

Did the property not have off street parking? No garage?

Another thought I had while sleeping was the frunks are "sealed" as in have a weather seal to stop water getting in.
Also I saw a lot of owners put after market ones on to "create a tighter seal, preventing rainwater, dust, and leaves from entering the frunk and the cabin air filter, leading to cleaner air. "

So couid that also contribute to the smell being enclosed effectively?

Also could it have "prevented evaporation" required to minimise a body by 50% mass?

 

[Lusitana]

BBMFF

Interesting to me that her sister went to the liquor store and asked to review the security tapes, not Celeste's parents.

Seems like at least the mother is not very fluent in english.

 

[Gemmie]

Seems like at least the mother is not very fluent in english.

That would make total sense. Thanks.

 

[HinterlandObserver]

This video shows at least three garages for off street parking.

Interesting.

69K views · 863 reactions | Singer D4vd’s relationship with 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez has now been confirmed, just weeks after her body was found in the trunk of his Tesla. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined b

Singer D4vd’s relationship with 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez has now been confirmed, just weeks after her body was found in the trunk of his Tesla. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious,...

www.facebook.com

 

[aurycore]

Apparently, she had several fake ID's, as any 14 year old would if they were going to places for 18 and over. I assume that Burke and his crew helped her obtain these, but there are many ways to get them. In Downtown L.A. there are people on the streets who can be approached and will guide the process of getting a fake ID. Getting a fake student ID (forged student ID) is super easy. Costs only about $50 (sometimes less, according to my students).

Every time she used a fake college ID, she was basically lying. I think I'd call this a joint lie by a couple who was very concerned about both the age gap and her actual age.

Fake IDs are very expensive, esp college ones. and if you look at celestes face, you can tell that she looks like a child and not a college student.