New autopsy details emerge in homicide case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez

A newly released toxicology report has added limited but notable detail to the final hours of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose death has now been formally classified as a homicide in Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that a toxicology analysis of liver tissue detected a “low level of ethanol” in Rivas’ system. 

Investigators noted the presence of alcohol could have resulted from postmortem changes or ingestion, and stated it did not contribute to her cause of death.

Initial screening also showed “presumptive positive” results for benzodiazepines, methamphetamines and MDMA. 

However, subsequent confirmatory testing did not verify the presence of MDMA or benzodiazepines, while other findings involving methamphetamine and designer opioids were deemed inconclusive due to interfering substances.

The official autopsy report, released on Wednesday, April 22, concluded that Rivas died from “multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s)” and classified the manner of death as homicide.

According to the medical examiner’s findings, the teenager suffered two penetrating wounds to her torso, including injuries to the liver and left chest, along with rib damage and bilateral dismemberment of both upper and lower extremities. 

The report also noted that her remains were so severely decomposed that identifying features such as eye color, age and ethnicity could not be determined, and that her limbs had been fragmented.

Rivas’ remains were discovered in September 2025 inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke. 

Prosecutors allege the vehicle contained her dismembered body for months before the discovery.

Burke, 21, was arrested last week and charged with one count of first-degree murder with special circumstances, along with additional charges including sexual acts with a person under 14 and mutilating human remains. 

He has pleaded not guilty and was denied bail at his arraignment on Monday.

Prosecutors further allege Rivas had been a witness in a separate investigation involving Burke prior to her death, related to alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor under 14.

A court order had previously kept the medical examiner’s findings sealed, but the restriction was lifted during recent proceedings, allowing the report to be made public. 

Officials said the delay had limited transparency in a case that has drawn widespread attention.