How the D4vd Murder Case Unfolded: A Detailed Timeline
The 21-year-old singer, known for 'Romantic Homicide,' is accused of killing and dismembering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege the murder occurred in April 2025, and her body was later found in his impounded Tesla. D4vd has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys maintain his innocence.
The discovery came after authorities traced a foul odor complaint to a Hollywood tow lot, where the Tesla had been impounded. Inside the front trunk, officers found two black bags containing dismembered remains, later identified as Rivas Hernandez through forensic work. She had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore in 2024 at age 13, and investigators initially could not confirm her age at death.
Prosecutors allege the killing occurred on April 23, 2025, timed just before the release of D4vd's debut album "Withered," which still charted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200. The case has already dismantled his professional standing — his tour was canceled, a deluxe album edition shelved, and he was dropped by his record label, music publisher, and management firm. His legal team maintains the evidence will exonerate him.
This case could reshape how the music industry handles artist conduct allegations, particularly when minors are involved. Fans of D4vd's young demographic may face difficult reckonings with parasocial attachment, while the entertainment business may tighten vetting and contractual morality clauses. The gruesome details could also influence public discourse on missing persons cases involving runaways, potentially prompting renewed scrutiny of how law enforcement tracks at-risk youth.