The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has broken their silence after the discovery of the teenager’s remains in singer d4vd’s Tesla.
Police located the remains of the missing 15-year-old last week following reports of a foul odor coming from an abandoned Tesla, found on North Mansfield Avenue in the Hollywood Hills.
Hernandez had initially disappeared on April 5, 2024, at 13 years old, near Lake Elsinore, California.
The Tesla in question was registered to musician d4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke. His representative informed NBC News that the singer is “fully cooperating” with authorities.
Hernandez’s family has created a GoFundMe page, providing a brief explanation of their need for financial assistance.
“As many of you know, Celeste Rivas Hernandez has been identified as the body found last week,” starts the message.
“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 fundraising goal is set at $20,000, with $11,289 already contributed at the time of writing.
According to the medical examiner’s office, Hernandez was found wearing a tube top, black leggings, stud earrings, and a yellow metal bracelet. The duration of her death remains uncertain.
At the time her remains were discovered, d4vd was on a US tour promoting his debut studio album, Withered.
The investigation into Celeste’s death took an unexpected turn when it was found that d4vd had previously released a song mentioning a girl named Celeste multiple times.
The track, which appeared online two years ago under the file name ‘Celeste_Demo unfin’, was subsequently removed from SoundCloud. Its lyrics reportedly included: “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.
“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.”
While no definitive evidence links the song to the deceased teenager, the lyrics have fueled public interest, particularly on social media.
Celeste’s mother told investigators that her daughter had been dating someone named David at the time of her disappearance, though no formal connection has been established between the singer and her death.
LADbible Group previously reached out to d4vd’s representatives for a statement.