The 15-year-old girl discovered dead in the trunk of singer D4vd’s Tesla had repeatedly run away from home due to a turbulent family life, law enforcement sources told TMZ.
Celeste Rivas, whose body was found earlier this month, had been reported missing multiple times by her family in Lake Elsinore, according to Riverside County law enforcement records.
Investigators from the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division are now piecing together her history in an effort to understand the circumstances leading up to her death.
Sources told TMZ that detectives believe ‘there’s lots of evidence Celeste comes from a troubled home,’ which may have ‘triggered her desire to run away.’
A liquor store owner near Celeste’s school bus stop recalled one incident on March 19, 2024, when her sister came in to review security footage in a desperate attempt to trace Celeste’s steps after she fled.
Her middle school teacher also told TMZ that Celeste had previously vanished in January 2024.
The 15-year-old girl discovered dead in the trunk of singer D4vd’s Tesla had repeatedly run away from home due to a turbulent family life, law enforcement sources told TMZ
Police eventually found her in the Hollywood Hills the following month and returned her home.Â
Notably, D4vd also lives in the Hollywood Hills. Celeste later disappeared for the last time in April.
It remains unclear if the family contacted Los Angeles police during that spring disappearance to determine where Celeste had been staying after she was found in February.
Celeste was allegedly able to move around undetected by using ‘multiple fake IDs’ to make herself appear older than she was.
Before authorities officially identified Celeste’s body, TMZ says they received a tip that she was the victim found in D4vd’s car.Â
When contacted, her mother revealed Celeste had a distinctive red tattoo on her right index finger and had been dating someone named David.Â
That information was relayed to LAPD homicide detectives, who later confirmed her identity.
Police have not announced any suspects in the case.
Celeste Rivas, whose body was found earlier this month, had been reported missing multiple times by her family in Lake Elsinore, according to Riverside County law enforcement records; seen in March 2025
Sources told TMZ that detectives believe ‘there’s lots of evidence Celeste comes from a troubled home,’ which may have ‘triggered her desire to run away’
On Tuesday, Daily Mail confirmed via the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office that the family of Rivas are now able to retrieve her remains.Â
Rivas’ remains were discovered after the vehicle was taken to a Hollywood tow yard in an impound, police said, a day before she would’ve turned 15.
There had been significant decomposition on her person, indicating her remains had been in the Tesla for some time, officials told the outlet.
Rivas had been reported to authorities as a missing person in May 2024, officials said.
Last week, police raided D4vd’s Hollywood Hills home searching for blood evidence in connection with the case.
D4vd has not been formally charged with any violation as of Wednesday morning; the Daily Mail has reached out to D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, for further comment on the story.
D4vd and the late teen were seen in a picture that surfaced last week as they sat together in a green booth at a venue, as a picture flash can be seen in a mirror in the background.
In the recently obtained photo, D4vd was clad in a black shirt with a white spider graphic on the chest (which he was also wearing when he was pictured with musical megastar Billie Eilish in the fall of 2023).
Celeste was allegedly able to move around undetected by using ‘multiple fake IDs’ to make herself appear older than she was
D4vd has not been formally charged with any violation as of Wednesday morning;Â D4vd and the late teen pictured together
The two appeared to be cozy at the time, as the teenager was pictured staring affectionately at the TikTok breakout star.
The discovery of the images comes as police exited the premises with multiple bags of evidence as well as a computer, TMZ reported last week.
More media surfacing connecting the musician to the deceased teenager has surfaced, coming in the form of a January 2024 stream that both of them were pictured on.Â
At one point during the stream, Rivas was encouraging D4vd to answer a question from a viewer.Â
People online also pointed to a 2022 single and video from the artist titled Romantic Homicide, which featured a dark-haired female who bore a striking resemblance to Rivas.
Last week, police raided D4vd’s Hollywood Hills home searching for blood evidence in connection with the case
Internet sleuths also unearthed a song from the artist revealing a potentially game-changing clue in the teen’s gruesome death in the form of a December 2023 track titled Celeste_Demo unfin.
The lyrics revealed a number of identifying traits Rivas had prior to her tragic death.
They include: ‘Oh, Celeste / The girl with my name tattooed on her chest / Smell her on my clothes like cigarettes / I hear her voice each time I take a breath / I’m obsessed.’
A subsequent set of lyrics points to what appears to be a romantic relationship the artist is describing with the subject of his song.
They include: ‘Oh, Celeste / Afraid you’ll only love me when undressed / But you look so damn gorgeous in that dress / Missing you so much makes me depressed / But I digress, because.’
It is not known if D4vd was singing about Rivas in the track.
