Officials investigating the death of teenager Celest Rivas Hernandez have released her official cause of death, listing it as ‘multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s).’
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed the determination on Wednesday, and again stated the death is being treated as a homicide.
“After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss,” Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo said in a statement. “It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter. The transparency of the information contained in our findings and reports is essential for empowering the community to make informed changes to affectively reduce fear and allowing the community to take informed action.”
The findings had remained sealed for more than a year. Their release comes shortly after a suspect, D4vd — whose legal name is David Anthony Burke — was taken into custody and formally charged in connection with her death.
Ukpo added that making these records accessible is intended to support prevention efforts and accountability, while also thanking other agencies for requesting a court order that allowed the disclosure to move forward.
“Making the Department’s information publicly available is not just about accountability, it is about social justice and prevention. By ensuring access to this information, we strengthen our ability to learn, to act, and ultimately to prevent the next tragic loss of life. I want to extend my gratitude to our partner agencies for taking the necessary step of filing an order with the court to make this disclosure possible.”
Celeste’s remains were found in September of last year, one day after what would have been her 15th birthday.
Police located her body inside an impounded Tesla registered to Burke after officers responded to reports of a “foul odor” coming from a vehicle stored at a Hollywood tow yard.
Her family had previously reported her missing in April 2024, when she was 13.
Burke, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder, a count that can carry either the death penalty or life in prison if he is convicted. He also faces one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and one count of unlawful mutilation of human remains.
Prosecutors have alleged multiple special circumstances, which make the case eligible for either the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole. It has not been confirmed which sentencing option the prosecution intends to pursue.
The special-circumstance allegations include lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and killing a witness to a crime. Celeste is described as a witness in relation to the sexual abuse charge.
After his April 17 arrest, Burke’s legal team publicly disputed the allegations and said he is not responsible for her death.
Attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter issued the following statement to LADbible Group: “Let us be clear – the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death.
“There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”