LAPD Confirms Investigation of D4vd’s Trip to Santa Barbara Location

Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed on Tuesday that they are investigating a spring 2025 visit by singer D4vd to the Santa Barbara region. This inquiry is part of the ongoing investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenager from Lake Elsinore, California, who was first reported missing in April 2024. Her remains were subsequently found on September 8 inside a Tesla's trunk, with the medical examiner determining she had been deceased for a significant period.

In an effort to counter widespread online speculation, the LAPD issued a formal statement to correct inaccuracies propagated by media outlets such as TMZ. The department explicitly denied rumors that Rivas's body was found in a frozen state or that she had been decapitated. "We possess evidence indicating D4vd's travel to Santa Barbara," the statement read. "The purpose of that journey remains under active investigation, and we have not yet determined its connection to this case." This clarification underscores the challenge law enforcement faces in an era of rapidly spreading digital misinformation.

Adding another layer to the complex information management surrounding the case, the LAPD had earlier petitioned a court on November 25 to block the county coroner from publicly disclosing specifics about the teenager's death. The department justified this legal action as necessary to ensure that detectives from its Robbery-Homicide Division could receive vital information ahead of its potential release to the press and public. This step, while potentially controversial, is a recognized tactic in high-stakes investigations to prevent the contamination of witness testimony and protect the integrity of the investigative process.

The victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was a resident of Lake Elsinore, a city located roughly 70 miles from Los Angeles. The connection of a prominent figure like D4vd—an artist who rose to fame through viral hits on social media platforms like TikTok—has inevitably amplified public and media attention on the case. As one criminal justice expert, Dr. Alisha Vance, observed, "The intersection of celebrity and criminal investigation creates a unique dynamic where public fascination can pressure authorities, sometimes forcing premature disclosures that compromise an active case." The LAPD's measured public communications appear designed to navigate this intense scrutiny while their investigation continues.