It's been months since that foul odor at a Hollywood tow yard changed everything. Honestly, the Celeste Rivas Hernandez update for early 2026 isn't the clear-cut resolution many were hoping for. Instead of handcuffs and a trial date, we’re looking at a legal stalemate that feels more like a Hollywood thriller than a standard police blotter.
The basics are still haunting. A 14-year-old girl from Lake Elsinore, missing since April 2024, ends up in the trunk of a Tesla. Not just any Tesla—one registered to David Anthony Burke, the singer the world knows as d4vd. Since the body was found on September 8, 2025, just one day after Celeste would have turned 15, the internet hasn't stopped talking. But behind the TikTok theories, the actual legal gears are grinding slowly.
Where the Investigation Stands Right Now
As of January 18, 2026, there are zero official charges. None.
The LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division has been tight-lipped, but we know a grand jury has been meeting behind closed doors since November. They've been hauling in witnesses, including high-level executives from Burke’s record label. Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman—a prosecutor known for being "the sniper" in high-profile cases—is reportedly steering this ship. Rumors from the courtroom hallways suggest she’s pushing for a murder indictment, but grand juries are secret for a reason. They need a majority to agree there’s enough evidence to move forward.
The Problem With the Autopsy
You’d think the cause of death would be settled by now. It’s not.
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The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is currently under a "security hold." This is a fancy way of saying the LAPD convinced a judge to keep the autopsy results a secret. Why? Usually, it's to protect the integrity of the investigation. If the public knows exactly how Celeste died, it could tip off a suspect or ruin the chance of getting a clean confession.
- Cause of death: Officially "deferred."
- Condition of the body: Severely decomposed.
- The "Frozen" Myth: LAPD Captain Scot Williams went on the record to debunk the viral rumors that Celeste was frozen or decapitated. He called it nonsense. The heat in a California car trunk for weeks does enough damage without adding urban legends to the mix.
The d4vd Connection and the Suspect Label
Is d4vd a suspect? It depends on who you ask and when you ask it.
Back in September, his team said he was "fully cooperating." By late 2025, sources within the LAPD told news outlets like Global News and People that the singer was no longer playing ball. He’s hired Blair Berk, a heavyweight defense attorney who has represented everyone from Kanye West to Britney Spears.
That Middle-of-the-Night Trip
Investigators are laser-focused on a specific road trip. They tracked a journey Burke supposedly made to a remote area of Santa Barbara County in the spring of 2025. This was months before the car was abandoned on Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills.
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Detectives are basically reverse-engineering his life. They’re looking at:
- Digital breadcrumbs: Discord logs and leaked Instagram messages that allegedly show a relationship between the singer and the 14-year-old.
- Surveillance footage: Private investigator Steve Fischer, hired by the owner of the house Burke was renting, says he has thousands of photos and videos.
- The Tesla itself: It sat on the street for weeks, collecting tickets and "caked-on dirt," according to neighbors.
It's a weird detail. If you have a body in a car, why leave it to get ticketed and towed? That's the question keeping everyone up at night.
The Family's Fight for Transparency
Celeste’s family is tired of waiting. Imagine being told your daughter was found in a celebrity's trunk, and then being told you can't see the autopsy report because of a "security hold."
Their attorney, Neama Rahmani, has been vocal about a potential civil lawsuit against the LAPD. They want the records released. They want to know why she was reported missing three times in a single year and how she fell through the cracks of the system before ending up in Los Angeles.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People love to jump to conclusions on social media. One of the biggest misconceptions is that the "Shhh" tattoo found on the body proves a connection to d4vd's "Romantic Homicide" aesthetic. While both had similar tattoos, investigators haven't officially used that to link them in a criminal sense yet.
Another big point of confusion: the location. The car wasn't "hidden." It was abandoned in a residential neighborhood and sat there long enough for the tow yard workers to be the ones who finally called the cops because of the smell.
How the Rest of 2026 Looks
The grand jury is expected to continue hearing testimony through February 2026. This is the "make or break" period. If they don't return an indictment by then, the case might go cold, or at least stall significantly.
The legal system is slow, especially when it involves someone with resources. But with a "security hold" on the medical records, the LAPD is clearly holding onto something they think is a smoking gun.
Actionable Steps for Staying Updated
If you're following the Celeste Rivas Hernandez update, here is how to cut through the noise:
- Watch the Grand Jury Timeline: Keep an eye on late February. If no indictment is unsealed by then, it suggests the prosecution is struggling with the decomposition evidence.
- Follow the Medical Examiner’s Challenge: The Medical Examiner's office is legally challenging the LAPD’s hold on the autopsy. If they win, the cause of death becomes public record.
- Check Verified Legal Analysts: Avoid "true crime" TikTokers who use AI-generated voices. Stick to outlets like Law&Crime or local LA reporters who are actually sitting in the courtroom.
The next few weeks will likely decide if this stays a "death investigation" or turns into the most high-profile murder trial of the year.