Body of girl, 15, found 'partially frozen and decapitated' in car of TikTok star more than a year after she went missing

Celeste Rivas' body was "partially frozen" when it was found in a car which was registered to rapper and online star D4vd, sources close to the investigation have claimed.

The 15-year-old, who was reported missing in 2024, was discovered dismembered in the boot of a Tesla which was registered to the singer on September 8. The body was discovered when the car, which had been abandoned for around a month, was impounded in the Hollywood Hills area of California.

Earlier this week, local reports suggested 20-year-old D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is now being considered a suspect. It has since been claimed that he is not cooperating with investigators.

Now, sources have claimed that it may not be possible to determine Celeste’s cause of death because of how her body was found.

Speaking to TMZ, sources claim the body was decapitated, with the limbs removed. The publication also reported that they had been told that the body parts were "partially frozen" and had been thawing out in the car.

Sources also claimed that after the body was discovered, investigators didn't know whether the body belonged to a male or a female. Initially, detectives said the teen was a victim of an "apparent homicide", but now the medical examiner is said to be struggling to determine a cause or manner of death.

"It will most likely be 'undetermined,'" sources have claimed. Despite this, the Los Angeles Police Department Robbery Homicide Division is viewing the teen's death as a homicide which means an arrest can still be made.

Earlier this week, a police source told People that D4vd is "not cooperating" with investigators, and has never cooperated with them. The source also said that authorities have not yet interviewed the singer and that there is still uncertainty over the crimes that he and his accomplices may have allegedly committed.

"We are working to determine if her death was a murder or something else," the source said. They went on to say that her cause of death will not be determined for some time: "Springtime is the closest we've come to determining the time of her death. Not before then."

D4vd's representative previously told NBC Los Angeles, however, that his client was "fully cooperating" with authorities.

After Celeste's body was found, D4vd cancelled the remaining dates on his tour, and a spokesperson said he was working with law enforcement. "D4vd has been informed about what's happened. And, although he is still out on tour, he is fully cooperating with the authorities," a spokesperson for the singer said.

The LAPD told The Mirror US in a statement at the time, "On September 17, 2025, detectives from the Robbery-Homicide Division served a search warrant on the 1300 block of Doheny Place in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Several items of evidence were recovered and will be analysed by detectives in the coming days.

"This is an ongoing investigation. Investigators are following up on several leads. Once additional information is available to share with the public, it will be released by the Media Relations Division. If anyone has any information about this investigation, they are urged to contact Robbery-Homicide Division (213) 486-6890 or LA Crime Stoppers at (213) 484-6700."

Celeste’s remains were discovered the day after her birthday, according to Fox 11. She was identified a short time later and her family launched a GoFundMe page called "Help Lay Celeste Rivas Hernandez to Rest.” On the page, a message read: "She was a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend. Her family is heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss."

At the time of writing, on Monday November 24, more than $24,000 has been raised on the page.

Celeste had been reported missing at least three times by her family in 2024, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office told the Los Angeles Times. The outlet reported that the then 13-year-old ran away from home for the first time on Valentine's Day 2024 and returned a few days later. She was reported missing for a final time on April 5 2024.

D4vd rose to fame on TikTok in 2022 with his songs Here with Me and Romantic Homicide.