Celeste Rivas GoFundMe: D4vd Tesla case takes big turn; family issue statement

Celeste Rivas' family broke their silence on the 15-year-old's death. In a GoFundMe fundraiser posted earlier this week, relatives remembered her.

Published on: Sep 19, 2025, 20:04:18 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Celeste Rivas' family broke their silence on the 15-year-old's death. In a GoFundMe fundraiser posted earlier this week, relatives remembered her as a ‘beloved sister, cousin, and friend’. This comes days after Rivas' decomposed body was found in a Tesla in a Los Angeles neighbourhood, in a Tesla linked to popular singer D4vd.

Celeste Rivas' body was found in a Tesla linked to D4vd (GoFundMe)

A fundraiser, set up by Esmeralda Lozano of Lake Elsinore, stated: “As many of you know, Celeste Rivas Hernandez has been identified as the body found last week. She was a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend. Her family is heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss. They are seeking help to lay her body to rest. Any funds you are able to donate are greatly appreciated.”

The GoFundMe has secured over $12,000 at the time of writing this story.

According to officials, Rivas went missing last year. Her decomposed body was found inside an impounded Tesla, which local media outlets reported is registered to D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, 20.

Neither his representatives nor police responded to requests for comment. Authorities have not implicated d4vd in her death.

The body was discovered Sept. 8 at a tow lot in Hollywood after someone noticed a stench coming from the Tesla, police said, according to news outlets.

In a statement, the medical examiner’s office said the body “was found severely decomposed.”

“She appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found,” officials said.

An unnamed representative for d4vd told NBC Los Angeles that the singer has been cooperating with authorities since the body was found. It's not clear why his car had been impounded.

Celeste was last seen in April 2024 in Lake Elsinore, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. She was 13 at the time.

(With AP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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