On November 19, 2025, the LAPD publicly confirmed that rising R&B artist D4vd—real name David Michael Cohen—is a suspect in the 2024 homicide of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The case, which began as a missing persons report in Lake Elsinore, California, took a chilling turn when her body was found in a drainage ditch on July 12, 2024. Now, after 19 months of investigation, detectives have shifted from speculation to active prosecution, citing encrypted messages, GPS anomalies, and a suspicious trip to remote wilderness as key evidence. The twist? This isn’t just about a celebrity. It’s about a teenager who vanished, and a system that took over a year to connect the dots.
The Disappearance and Discovery
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a sophomore at Lake Elsinore High School, left her home at 247 Oak Street on April 17, 2024, at 8:47 PM. Her mother, Maria Hernandez, filed a missing persons report by 11:22 PM that same night. For months, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department handled the case, treating it as a runaway scenario—until July 12, when hikers stumbled upon her remains near Railroad Canyon Road. The cause of death? Traumatic asphyxia, according to the August 3, 2024, autopsy report. No drugs. No alcohol. Just bruises. And a single trace of Benadryl—so low, it was medically irrelevant.
D4vd’s Digital Trail
Here’s where it gets unsettling. Between April 10 and 16, 2024, David Michael Cohen exchanged 17 encrypted messages with Celeste via Signal. Cell tower data placed him within 0.8 miles of her home on April 16 at 9:22 PM—just hours before she vanished. Investigators didn’t just pull records. They reconstructed timelines. And they found something odd: no one else in Celeste’s life had that level of digital contact with her in the final days. Not her friends. Not her siblings. Not even her boyfriend.
Then came the trip. On March 22, 2025, at 11:48 PM, D4vd drove his black 2023 Tesla Model Y (plate 7XJK452) into the Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area in Santa Barbara County. He stayed for 3 hours and 29 minutes. No calls. No texts. No GPS signal. Just silence. TMZ first reported the anomaly, but LAPD confirmed it—down to the minute. Why there? Why then? Why no explanation?
The Search Warrants and Bail
On November 18, 2025, LAPD detectives executed a warrant at D4vd’s Venice Beach residence at 1421 Pacific Avenue. They seized a navy blue North Face backpack—one that matched witness descriptions of what Celeste was carrying the night she disappeared. A chilling coincidence? Or damning evidence? Detectives Marcus Johnson and Elena Rodriguez are now leading the case under file number HR-2025-08872.
On November 20, 2025, a judge imposed a $2.5 million bail bond, restricting D4vd to Los Angeles County. He’s under 24/7 GPS monitoring. His passport has been confiscated. His social media accounts are frozen. His label, RCA Records, has issued no statement.
What’s Next?
The next phase is even more intense. On November 25, LAPD will search Darkroom Studios at 6000 Sunset Boulevard—where D4vd recorded his platinum-selling debut album, Petals to Thorns. Investigators believe the studio may hold hidden data: deleted files, voice memos, or even audio recordings from the night Celeste vanished.
Then, on November 28–29, an FBI Evidence Response Team from Quantico, Virginia, will descend on Figueroa Mountain. They’ll use ground-penetrating radar, drone thermal imaging, and forensic soil analysis. If D4vd buried something there—clothing, a phone, a weapon—they’ll find it.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just another celebrity scandal. Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a real girl. She had a favorite color (purple), a dog named Luna, and a dream of becoming a nurse. Her death was ruled a homicide—not an accident, not a tragedy of circumstance. And now, the system is finally chasing the truth.
Meanwhile, D4vd’s music—soaring, emotional, intimate—has taken on a new, disturbing layer. Fans who once called him "the voice of Gen Z" are now asking: Did he write those songs about heartbreak… or guilt?
The LAPD says they’re not assuming guilt. But they’re not letting go either. And that’s what makes this case so powerful: it’s not about fame. It’s about justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did LAPD connect D4vd to Celeste Rivas Hernandez?
LAPD linked D4vd through encrypted Signal messages exchanged in the days before Celeste vanished, cell tower pings placing him near her home on April 16, 2024, and a suspicious late-night trip to Figueroa Mountain in March 2025. A seized backpack matching witness accounts further tied him to the case. No other individual had such direct digital and physical contact with her in the final 72 hours.
Why was jurisdiction transferred from Riverside County to LAPD?
Jurisdiction shifted because evidence pointed to Los Angeles County—specifically, D4vd’s residence in Venice Beach and his recording studio in Sunset Boulevard. Under California Penal Code Section 730, when a homicide investigation crosses county lines and involves suspects tied to another jurisdiction, the lead agency can change. LAPD now leads because the crime’s planning and cover-up likely occurred in LA.
What does the autopsy reveal about Celeste’s death?
The August 3, 2024, autopsy concluded Celeste died of traumatic asphyxia with multiple contusions—meaning she was forcibly restrained or suffocated. Toxicology showed only 12 nanograms per milliliter of diphenhydramine, far below therapeutic levels. There was no evidence of drugs, alcohol, or accidental overdose. The injuries suggest intentional violence, not an accident or suicide.
Is D4vd officially charged yet?
No, as of November 20, 2025, D4vd has not been formally charged. He is a suspect under active investigation. The $2.5 million bail and GPS monitoring are pre-charge conditions set by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Prosecutors need more forensic evidence—particularly from the upcoming FBI search of Figueroa Mountain and Darkroom Studios—before filing charges.
Could D4vd have had help disposing of the body?
Yes, according to anonymous LAPD sources cited by KTLA. Detectives believe at least one accomplice helped conceal evidence, possibly by moving the body or cleaning up a crime scene. The FBI’s involvement in the Santa Barbara search suggests they’re looking for signs of coordinated effort. Investigators are now reviewing surveillance footage from gas stations and rest stops along the route D4vd took in March 2025.
What impact could this have on D4vd’s music career?
Even without charges, D4vd’s career is effectively paused. RCA Records has suspended all promotional activity. Streaming platforms have pulled his music from curated playlists. Concerts are canceled. Fans are divided—some defend him, others say his lyrics now feel like confessions. If charged and convicted, he could face life in prison. If cleared, he may still struggle to rebuild trust in a culture that remembers every detail.
