The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office publicly revealed the cause of death for 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez on Wednesday (April 22), six days after D4vd was charged with her murder.
According to a press release from the medical examiner, Rivas’ cause of death was determined as “multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s).” Her manner of death was ruled 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.
Rivas’ decomposed partial remains were found in the front trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to D4vd (real name: David Anthony Burke) in September after police responded to reports of a “foul odor” coming from the car in a Hollywood tow lot. They discovered two bags containing severed, decomposed body parts that were later identified as Rivas.
D4vd was arrested on April 16. On Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed the rapper was charged with first-degree murder in Rivas’ death. Hochman’s office alleged in a press release that D4vd killed Rivas with a “sharp instrument” in a plot to protect his music career after Rivas threatened to reveal that the then-20-year-old had engaged in illegal sexual acts with her as a minor. D4vd was also charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and mutilating a body.
In a statement shared with CBS News and ABC on Tuesday, Rivas’ family spoke out about her murder, thanking the Los Angeles Police Department and the District Attorney for their “hard work.”
“Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance,” the family wrote. “We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste.”
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