Tragedy Strikes Lake Elsinore: The Mysterious Death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl from Lake Elsinore, California, was a familiar face in her neighborhood. She would often visit the corner store with her friends, wearing her signature long, curly black hair and backpack. However, behind her usual routine, Celeste was struggling with personal issues that eventually led to her tragic death.
According to Riverside County Sheriff’s Department records, Celeste was reported missing three times by her family in early 2024. Her mother, Mercedes Martinez, made emotional pleas on Facebook for her to come home, and neighbors posted missing person flyers around the neighborhood. The community was worried, and Celeste’s family sought video surveillance footage to help locate her.
Community residents gathered for a vigil in Lake Elsinore.
(OnScene.TV)
Investigation and Connection to D4vd
Celeste’s body was found decomposing in the trunk of a Tesla owned by singer D4vd (David Anthony Burke) in an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood. The Los Angeles Police Department announced the discovery, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office declared Celeste dead on September 8, a day after her birthday. Authorities believe she had been dead for weeks before the discovery.
Police are investigating the connection between Celeste and D4vd, reviewing videos and photos that appear to show them together. Law enforcement sources say they met online, where D4vd had gained a following by posting “Fortnite” clips and pivoted to making his own music. He was signed to a record label by 2022.
A vigil in Lake Elsinore to remember Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
(OnScene.TV)
Community Reaction and Investigation
The community in Lake Elsinore is grieving and seeking answers. Elie Naddaf, owner of a corner store in Celeste’s neighborhood, said, “Everybody in the community is sad, not just the children. You can see it with anyone that comes here.” Celeste’s mother, Mercedes Martinez, believes her daughter had a boyfriend, but she had not met him.
