Kit Roberts
Police investigating the death of a teenage girl found in the trunk of a car belonging to musician D4vd have clarified key points in the harrowing case.
The singer, 20, was on tour when Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was reported missing in April 2024, was found in the boot of a car belonging to him in September.
In the wake of the horrifying discovery, rumors began to circulate on social media about the case. These included that Hernandez was discovered decapitated and frozen in the car.
However, a police captain with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has since issued a statement clarifying key details about the case, which is now being treated as a homicide.
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These include the claims about the condition of Hernandez's body when it was found, which have become prevalent online.
Scot Williams is an LAPD captain and commanding officer of the Robbery-Homicide Division.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Williams said that the claims that Hernandez had been decapitated and frozen are false.
He said: “Celeste's body was not frozen. She was not decapitated. The whole frozen thing doesn't even make sense. Her body was in the car for weeks."
The police captain went on to say it would not have been possible for Hernandez to be frozen.
"Even if she had been frozen solid when she was put in the car (which there is NO evidence to suggest she was), five or more weeks in the trunk of a car in sweltering heat in the middle of summer would not have resulted in a partially frozen body being discovered on September 8th."
The car Miss Hernandez was found in had been abandoned, and she was discovered by staff working at a car impound after the vehicle was removed.
Staff at the impound made the awful discovery after noticing a foul smell coming from the vehicle.
On November 24, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said that they had received a court order from the LAPD to put a security alert on Hernandez’s case.
“No records or details associated with the case, including the cause and manner of death and Medical Examiner report, can be released or posted on the website until further notice,” the medical examiner said in a statement.
"The Department understands the public’s interest in this case and remains committed to transparency when possible. Information will be made available once the court order is lifted."
D4vd - who has not yet publicly commented on the investigation - has not been charged with any crime, and his reps previously said he was cooperating with police.