🔴 Celeste Rivas Death Probe Escalates: Key Witness Faces Arrest as Rapper D4vd Remains a Suspect
The investigation into the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas has escalated dramatically, as a female witness in the grand jury probe now faces potential arrest for refusing to cooperate, according to TMZ.
Rivas’ remains were recovered on September 8 inside an impounded Tesla registered to rapper D4vd (David Anthony Burke) in Hollywood, California — a discovery that has shaken Los Angeles investigators and launched a high-profile grand jury inquiry.
Witness Faces a “Body Attachment” Order
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman reportedly informed defense attorney Evan Jenness that she will request a “body attachment” — a legal order allowing U.S. Marshals to detain an uncooperative witness and bring them before the court.
The unnamed female witness, represented by the same attorney as D4vd’s manager Robert Morgenroth, failed to appear for her scheduled testimony this week.
A body attachment is typically issued when a witness is found in civil contempt, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Manager Testified for Three Days — Says Prosecutor Was “Pushy”
Morgenroth, who toured with D4vd, previously testified for three days before the grand jury.
Sources say Silverman pressed him hard on why he never contacted police regarding the 15-year-old victim.
In a hallway conversation overheard by others, Morgenroth reportedly told his lawyer he “didn’t feel it was [his] responsibility” to alert authorities and “just wanted to continue with the tour.”
Inside the Shocking State of the Body
Initial leaks from inside the investigation were gruesome.
TMZ reported that Celeste’s remains were:
- Partially dismembered
- Possibly frozen at some point
- Thawing when found inside the vehicle
However, LAPD later pushed back, clarifying that while the teen was partially dismembered, she was not decapitated and her body was not frozen, contradicting earlier rumors.
Because of the condition of the remains, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner may not be able to determine an exact cause of death.
D4vd Remains a Suspect — No Charges Filed Yet
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that D4vd is a suspect, though he has not been formally charged and has not commented publicly.
Investigators reportedly believe a second suspect may have been involved, possibly in the disposal of the body, according to a TMZ podcast featuring attorney Mark Geragos and TMZ founder Harvey Levin.
A similar report from People noted that another individual likely helped handle the remains.
How the Body Was Found
Police discovered Rivas’ body after receiving complaints of a strong odor coming from an abandoned Tesla with Texas plates.
Key details:
- The car had been left in the Hollywood Hills before being towed to a local impound lot
- The remains were found inside a bag in the “frunk” (front trunk)
- The vehicle had been sitting for several days before police opened it
ABC7 footage captured officers examining the car before it was removed from the lot.
D4vd’s Career Was Rising Before the Scandal
Just days before he was linked to the abandoned vehicle, D4vd had been promoting the deluxe version of his debut album, “Withered.”
The young artist signed with Interscope Records in 2022 and released two EPs in 2023 — Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals. He had been touring extensively this year.
The investigation remains ongoing, with prosecutors aggressively pursuing witness testimony as the case intensifies.