D4VD - Shocking Revelations Emerge in Celeste Rivas Case: Private Investigator Alleges 'Sadistic' Plot as LAPD Probes Deeper

Los Angeles, CA – October 20, 2025

A private investigator hired by the landlord of singer D4vd's former Hollywood Hills rental has claimed there may have been a "sadistic" plan to "get rid of" 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to the 20-year-old artist last month. The revelation, shared exclusively with TMZ, comes as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) continues its investigation without naming suspects or filing charges, leaving Rivas' family and fans demanding answers.

Steven Fischer, the PI retained by the owner of the $3.6 million property where D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke) resided until recently, described the case as one of the most disturbing he's encountered in his career. "I believe there were plans made to get rid of her in a very sadistic way," Fischer told reporters, citing evidence from surveillance footage and witness statements he's gathered independently. He emphasized that Rivas' body had likely been decomposing for weeks—possibly months—before its gruesome discovery on September 8 in an impounded vehicle near the rental home.

Fischer's probe has uncovered what he calls a potential "last driver" of the Tesla: video from July 29 showing an unidentified individual behind the wheel, just days before D4vd's social media indicated he was in Los Angeles for tour dates. The footage, handed over to LAPD, depicts the car leaving the property for what Fischer believes was the final time before it was abandoned, ticketed, and towed. "D4vd was in town at the time, based on his posts," Fischer noted, adding that the singer's team has only communicated with the landlord about lease termination, with no updates on Rivas.

The LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, which took over the case due to its high profile, confirmed to Hindustan Times on October 18 that it had seized additional security footage and electronics from the rental home as part of an ongoing search warrant executed last month. Detectives combed the four-bedroom mansion overnight on September 19, removing bags of potential evidence, including computers and other devices. "We're examining every aspect to uncover the truth and seek justice for Celeste and her family," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated in a recent update, stressing that the investigation remains active but hampered by the body's advanced state of decomposition.

No cause or manner of death has been officially determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, a roadblock experts attribute to the challenging forensic analysis required. "Given the condition in which the body was found, it might be tough determining the exact cause," retired forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Pakett told Complex magazine. Until then, the case cannot be classified as a homicide, though foul play is not ruled out. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman declined further comment, noting the file has not yet reached his office.

D4vd, whose viral hit "Romantic Homicide" propelled him to stardom, has maintained silence since canceling his U.S. tour and delaying his album release in the wake of the discovery. His representatives previously told NBC News that the artist is "fully cooperating" with authorities and had "zero knowledge" of Rivas' presence in the vehicle. However, resurfaced videos have fueled outrage: clips show D4vd and Rivas, who had been missing since last year, joking about statutory rape and other sensitive topics when she was just 15. One viral snippet, highlighted by WION Showbiz, captures D4vd saying he "trained" Rivas, prompting accusations of grooming from online sleuths.

Adding layers of intrigue, public records reveal D4vd transferred ownership of his Cypress, Texas home to his mother shortly after Rivas' body was found, a move his manager Josh Marshall dismissed as routine amid the chaos. Earlier this month, a swatting incident at the Texas property—triggered by a fake 911 call reporting gunshots—forced deputies to descend on the home with weapons drawn, only to find it was a hoax. Separately, a Freedom of Information request uncovered that LAPD visited the Hollywood Hills rental two months before the body's discovery, though details remain sealed.Rivas, a cheerleader from Lake Elsinore, California, was last photographed alive in early July, according to Fischer's timeline—mere weeks before the Tesla footage. She sported a "Shhh..." tattoo on her finger matching one of D4vd's, and her family reported she had been dating a boy named "David" around her disappearance. Deputies had visited her troubled home multiple times in recent years for welfare checks, painting a picture of a vulnerable teen far from the spotlight of D4vd's rising fame.

As the probe stalls, advocates for Rivas held a vigil in Lake Elsinore over the weekend, with her mother pleading for closure: "We just want to know what happened to our baby." Legal experts, speaking to Law&Crime Network, warn the case could drag on for months due to forensic delays, but Fischer remains optimistic. "I've turned over everything to LAPD—they're the ones who'll crack this," he said.

For now, the music world—and a grieving nation—watches as the shadows of Hollywood Hills conceal what may be a tale of tragedy far darker than any chart-topping ballad. Updates will follow as new leads emerge. thumpmusic.com