Court orders Celeste Rivas death details sealed – NBC Los Angeles

The LA County Department of Medical Examiner has removed publicly-viewable information about the ongoing investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas-Hernandez, the 15-year-old whose remains were discovered inside a Tesla sedan registered to the pop singer D4vd.

The Medical Examiner, commonly referred to as the Coroner, confirmed Monday that it received a court order to place a security hold, or ‘seal,’ on information connected with the case.

“No records or details associated with the case, including the cause and manner of death and Medical Examiner report, can be released or posted on the website until further notice,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo in a statement.

The November 21 court order was obtained at the request of the LAPD, which previously made an informal request in September to withhold information about the case, the statement said.

The Medical Examiner said that initial request was denied, “due to insufficient jurisdiction to warrant the hold.”

Questions about the cause and timing of Rivas-Hernandez’ death remain a mystery and a key focus of the LAPD’s investigation, being led by detectives from its Robbery-Homicide Divison.

“This is an ongoing RHD homicide case, and the purpose of the court order is to ensure the LAPD receives information on this case from the Medical Examiner’s office before the public does,” LAPD Capt. Mike Bland told NBC4 Investigates.

Last week an LAPD official not authorized to speak publicly about the case told NBC4 Investigates that D4vd was now considered a suspect in the teen’s death.

The official also said investigators believed her death occurred sometime in the Spring — months before her remains were discovered — and that it was likely a second person had assisted in the attempt to dispose of her body.

NBC4 first reported the discovery of the remains inside the Tesla’s front trunk September 8 by employees of Hollywood Tow, one of the LAPD’s official impound yards.

About a week later the Medical Examiner identified the deceased person as Rivas-Hernandez, who police said was last seen alive in April, 2024.

LAPD RHD detectives searched a rental home in the Hollywood Hills where D4vd had been staying and removed a number of items.

The LAPD official said D4vd, who’s legal name is David Burke, has not been cooperating with detectives.

Calls to the attorney believed to representing D4vd have not been returned.

D4vd was on a concert tour when the Tesla was impounded after neighbors said it had been parked in the Hollywood Hills for about a month.

The remaining “Withered World” tour dates were cancelled after the remains in the car were identified as Rivas-Hernandez.