A striking new development has emerged in the mysterious case of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed body was found in the front trunk of a Tesla belonging to rising music artist D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke) in September 2025.
A Los Angeles private investigator, Steve Fischer, has claimed he possesses photographic evidence showing Celeste alive in 2025, months after the last officially confirmed sighting of her in September 2024.
In an interview with Los Angeles Magazine, Fischer — known for his work on missing persons cases — stated he had obtained “an image of her taken in 2025”, though he declined to specify the date due to the ongoing investigation.
“I don’t have any proof of communication from her, but I do have an image of her taken in 2025,” Fischer said. “I can’t disclose the exact day or month.”
Fischer described the image as constituting an “official sighting” of Celeste beyond the previously verified Ring camera footage from September 8, 2024, which captured her outside her family’s Lake Elsinore home in a confrontation with neighbors.
Celeste’s disappearance history has long perplexed both investigators and the public.
She was first reported missing in February 2024, then again in April, though her family has said they last saw her on April 5, 2024.
The Ring camera footage from September 2024, released by TMZ, appeared to confirm that Celeste had returned home months later — exactly one year before her body was discovered. The video showed her arguing with neighbors who had allegedly played a prank on her family.
If Fischer’s claim proves accurate, it could push Celeste’s timeline forward by several months, suggesting she may have been alive well into 2025 — far later than investigators had previously believed.
Fischer has raised concerns about potential procedural failures, noting that despite reports of Celeste returning home multiple times, her name was never removed from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
He described this as “an oddity and a thing of concern,” suggesting it might indicate communication lapses between local authorities and federal databases.
Fischer is also analyzing physical evidence, including photographs he obtained of D4vd’s Tesla after it was impounded. He said the car appeared dust-covered and damaged, with “beat up” wheel wells and “a huge dent in the back,” adding that it “almost looks like it’s been off-road in the desert or something.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has not commented beyond its September 30, 2025 statement, confirming that Celeste’s body was found in D4vd’s vehicle and that she “may have been deceased for several weeks before the discovery.”
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has listed the cause and manner of death as “deferred,” pending toxicology and forensic results. Investigators have not determined whether any criminal charges are warranted, though authorities acknowledged that concealment of a body is a potential offense.
True crime reporter and host Lauren, who has been following the case closely from New York, said in a recent video that the LAPD’s silence has fueled speculation.
“The LAPD has been very tight-lipped when it comes to the case of Celeste Rivas-Hernandez,” Lauren said. “They put out an official statement on September 30th, 2025, and they haven’t said anything since.”
She added that, until Fischer’s claim, only one sighting had been officially confirmed — the September 2024 Ring camera video.
“Now, Steve Fisher, the Los Angeles PI that has been investigating this case actively, he confirmed with me that he has a photo of Celeste, and it is from early 2025,” Lauren continued. “At this point, a lot of people were wondering how long was she deceased for? We still don’t know, but again, I think that this is a step forward.”
Records show that Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies responded to multiple calls at the Rivas Hernandez home between 2022 and 2024. Celeste’s repeated disappearances and returns home fueled confusion and frustration among family members and law enforcement alike.
D4vd, the 20-year-old artist best known for his hit single “Here With Me,” has not been named a suspect and is reportedly cooperating through his attorney, Blair Berk. He canceled his tour following the discovery of Celeste’s body and has withdrawn from public appearances since late September.
Fischer’s claim of possessing a 2025 photograph of Celeste has added another layer of complexity to a case already marked by inconsistencies and unanswered questions.
As the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division continues to investigate, authorities have urged patience and caution against online speculation.
“We are working to uncover the truth and seek justice for Celeste Rivas Hernandez and her family,” an LAPD spokesperson said.
For now, the public — and Celeste’s grieving family — await clarity on one of Los Angeles’ most perplexing cases of the year.
