D4vd Rental Home Owner Hires Private Investigator After LAPD Stonewalls Celeste Rivas Case
In the shadowy hills of Hollywood, where fame and tragedy often collide, the owner of a luxury mansion tied to rising singer D4vd has taken matters into his own hands. Frustrated by weeks of silence from the Los Angeles Police Department, he’s enlisted a private investigator to unravel the chilling mystery surrounding 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death—her decomposed remains found in D4vd’s impounded Tesla.
The case has gripped Los Angeles since September 8, 2025, when tow yard workers in Hollywood discovered Rivas Hernandez’s dismembered body wrapped in plastic inside the front trunk of a Tesla Model 3 registered to David Anthony Burke, the 19-year-old TikTok sensation known as D4vd. The car had been abandoned on a public street near the rental home for over 72 hours, leading to its impoundment by the city’s Department of Transportation. A foul odor prompted the grim find—just one day after what would have been her 15th birthday. Rivas Hernandez had vanished from her Lake Elsinore home in February 2024 at age 13, resurfacing only in death after more than a year on the missing persons list.
Enter Mladen Trifunovic, the owner of the $4.1 million Hollywood Hills mansion that D4vd’s manager, Josh Marshall, had leased for $20,000 a month starting in February 2025. Trifunovic, who claims he was unaware D4vd was even staying there until media reports surfaced, watched helplessly as LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division detectives raided the property on September 17. Officers carted away computers, electronics, and bags of potential evidence, probing for blood traces or signs that Rivas Hernandez might have been killed inside. Yet, nearly a month later, Trifunovic has heard nothing—no updates on the cause of death, no word on leads, and no clearance for his home, which now sits tainted by association.
“It’s very disturbing,” Trifunovic told Daily Mail earlier this month, describing the emotional toll on his family. With the LAPD labeling the probe “ongoing” but offering zero details to him, Trifunovic hired seasoned private investigator Steve Fischer to conduct an independent review. Fischer, known for missing persons cases and search-and-rescue ops, is combing through the home’s exterior surveillance footage—installed years before the lease—and lining up interviews with potential witnesses. The goal: Confirm if Rivas Hernandez ever set foot in the mansion and, crucially, when she was last seen alive.
“We’re not interfering with the LAPD’s work; we’re just seeking answers that might not come otherwise,” Trifunovic explained to TMZ. He emphasized that initial walkthroughs showed no obvious signs of foul play inside the sprawling estate, once owned by Halle Berry. Still, the lack of communication has left him reeling: “Our home was placed at the center of a serious investigation when it shouldn’t have been, and we want clear answers for our family.”
The LAPD’s silence has fueled widespread speculation. Friends in D4vd’s circle reportedly believed Rivas Hernandez was 19, not a minor, and the pair shared matching “Sshhh…” tattoos on their index fingers—a detail that exploded online. An unearthed track titled “Celeste” with ominous lyrics like “I wanna make you suicidal” added to the frenzy, though its link to D4vd remains unconfirmed. D4vd, whose brooding hits like “Here With Me” propelled him to viral fame, went dark post-discovery: canceling his tour, halting his deluxe album “Withered,” and breaking the lease on the home. Marshall has since begun clearing out belongings, per property records.
In a preemptive move, D4vd retained high-powered attorney Blair Berk—known for defending Harvey Weinstein, Kanye West, and Britney Spears—weeks ago. Sources close to the case suggest it’s more “damage control” for the PR storm than murder defense, as LAPD has neither named him a suspect nor made arrests. Marshall broke his silence via BET, denying 2024 tip-offs about Rivas Hernandez’s whereabouts and insisting D4vd is cooperating fully.
Public reaction has been visceral. On X, posts from journalists like Lauren Conlin of Los Angeles Magazine amplify Trifunovic’s frustration, racking up thousands of views. Private eye Steve Fischer himself teased the development, urging focus on #CelesteRivasHernandez. Fans and true-crime enthusiasts dissect timelines, with some theorizing the impound delay—why wasn’t the trunk checked sooner?—points to a frame job. Others slam LAPD’s opacity, echoing broader critiques of celebrity-adjacent probes.
For Angelenos and music lovers nationwide, this saga underscores the perils of unchecked stardom in Tinseltown. As D4vd’s Gen-Z fanbase grapples with the fall of their introspective idol, it spotlights vulnerabilities in youth runaway cases and the entertainment industry’s blind spots on age and consent. Economically, the scandal could dent streaming royalties for Interscope Records, while politically, it reignites calls for better missing persons protocols in California.
User intent in searching this story leans toward closure and accountability—parents scanning for safety tips, fans demanding transparency, and locals wary of Hollywood’s underbelly. Tools like the LAPD’s tip line (1-877-LAPD-24-7) or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offer ways to contribute, but experts like Fischer advise patience: “Rushed probes breed errors; let the facts surface.”
As Trifunovic’s PI digs deeper, whispers of new leads circulate, but LAPD holds firm: “This is an ongoing investigation.” The case’s inertia risks eroding trust in law enforcement, especially with a minor’s life at stake.
In summary, Trifunovic’s bold step highlights a family’s quest for truth amid institutional delays, with the Celeste Rivas investigation teetering on potential breakthroughs or prolonged heartbreak. Future developments could reshape narratives around fame, grief, and justice in the City of Angels—stay tuned as answers emerge.
By Sam Michael
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