Experts Explain Why D4vd Hasn't Been Arrested as Celeste Rivas Body Found in Tesla

Authorities are under mounting pressure to explain why singer D4vd has not been arrested after a body was found inside a car registered in his name, the remains later identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas. The discovery was made Sept. 8 in the front trunk of a Tesla at a Hollywood impound lot. The car had never been reported stolen, and Rivas had been missing for more than a year.

Investigators have not named D4vd as a suspect, though police raided a home connected to him. The case has drawn attention to possible links, including a tattoo that reportedly matches one on Rivas, a rumored romantic relationship, and an unreleased track that references a girl named Celeste. Rivas’ mother has told investigators her daughter's boyfriend was allegedly named David. The 19-year-old singer, best known for his breakout hit Romantic Homicide, had continued touring but later canceled the remainder of his shows as investigators pursued leads.

Legal experts say it is not unusual for authorities to wait for autopsy results before naming a suspect or pursuing charges. "The medical examiner needs to confirm that this was a homicide before any official charges are filed," Kevin Angelo Brown, a criminologist and professor at Arkansas State University, said. "For example, if the findings conclude that it was not a homicide but a natural death or a suicide, a different route would be needed to charge someone with a crime." Brown noted that while transporting a body could open the door to charges such as obstruction of justice or improper disposal of human remains, prosecutors cannot pursue murder charges without forensic confirmation.

Yosi Yahoudai, co-founder and managing partner at &Y Law, echoed that assessment. "The reason D4vd hasn't been arrested yet likely comes down to the autopsy," he said. "Until the cause and manner of death are confirmed, police can't legally call this a homicide. Without that, naming suspects or making arrests becomes risky. It's standard practice when human remains are decomposed; law enforcement needs to wait on forensic confirmation before they can move forward." He added that authorities may deliberately hold back to avoid tipping off potential suspects, noting that investigators sometimes withhold accusations to elicit information or to prevent self-incriminating statements at an early stage.

Other experts say the timing of the investigation matters. With a death that may have occurred days, weeks, or months before discovery, officers face the challenge of gathering evidence that can hold up in court. Investigators are believed to be collecting forensic material from the vehicle and from items seized in the raid, including electronics, to test for DNA, fingerprints, digital communications, and physical traces such as blood. Narrowing down the date of Rivas's death will be critical to ruling suspects in or out, as it could establish an alibi or a direct link to D4vd. At this stage, experts say much of what authorities have is circumstantial.

The public connection to D4vd—sharing a tattoo, a rumored relationship with Rivas, and a referenced Celeste in an unreleased song—has drawn scrutiny, but none of those elements, on their own, proves involvement in a crime. Lawyers caution that prosecutors often examine lyrics and music videos as part of building a narrative, especially when combined with digital evidence or witness testimony. For example, the video for One More Dance shows a body being dragged into a trunk, and Rehab depicts a girl's arm being cut off; even if such imagery appears in an artist’s work, it does not by itself establish guilt.

Cooperation by D4vd may influence public perception, but it does not immunize him from potential charges if new evidence emerges. "The medical examiner needs to confirm that this was a homicide before any official charges are filed," Brown said. "If he cooperates, it will certainly help in terms of public perception of his innocence, but it doesn't protect him against being charged if they come up with the evidence." Yahoudai cautioned that even with cooperation, the case could hinge on forensic results. "Right now, we're in the 'gray area' of a lot of suspicion, but not a lot of admissible proof. That'll change quick once the forensics come back," he said. Brown added that investigators may be holding back to avoid tipping off a suspect before an arrest warrant is secured.

As the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner conducts its analysis, several scenarios could unfold. Brown acknowledged that there is a possibility the case could go to trial and result in an arrest for D4vd if forensic findings align with circumstantial evidence and investigators' timeline. "It would not surprise me if this case goes to trial and there is an arrest of D4vd, especially if lyrics, circumstantial evidence, and forensic proof begin to line up," he said. Yahoudai, meanwhile, cautioned that prosecutors must rely on hard, corroborated evidence before charging anyone with a crime, regardless of public perception or early suspicions.

The coming days and weeks will likely determine whether the autopsy confirms a homicide and what additional investigative steps prosecutors pursue. In the meantime, the case has sharpened the public’s focus on the intersection of music, celebrity, and serious criminal inquiries, underscoring how forensic science and careful legal strategy shape outcomes even when connections to a high-profile figure appear conspicuous.