D4vd Case Update: Grand Jury Twist Requires Rapper's Family To Cooperate In Celeste Rivas' Tesla Death Probe

A Texas appeals court ruling has intensified the investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, requiring members of singer D4vd's family to comply with grand jury subpoenas in California.

The parents and brother of the artist known as D4vd have been contesting Los Angeles County grand jury subpoenas linked to the case, with court records in Texas showing that they argued that their due process rights were being violated. The legal dispute centres on demands that they testify before a California grand jury examining Celeste's death.

On Monday, 16 February, the 1st District Court of Appeals in Texas denied three habeas corpus petitions seeking to overturn a lower court order. That order required the family members, who live in Texas, to comply with the subpoenas. According to the ruling, the appeals panel may revisit the matter at another hearing scheduled for 24 February.

Discovery Of Celeste Rivas Hernandez

The development follows the discovery of Celeste Rivas Hernandez's remains on 8 September at a Hollywood tow yard. The 14-year-old was found in the trunk of D4vd's Tesla after a tow yard worker reported a foul smell to police. Authorities uncovered her body the day after what would have been her 15th birthday.

LAPD Capt. Scot Williams, head of the Robbery-Homicide Division, said the girl had been 'dead for at least several weeks.' He also stated that the body had not been decapitated or frozen, countering reports published elsewhere. Although the LAPD not publicly classified the death as a homicide, a court filing by an LAPD detective described it as 'an investigation into murder'.

Grand Jury Proceedings And Legal Filings

In November, prosecutors began presenting evidence to what was described at the time as an investigative grand jury. A source familiar with the matter confirmed that multiple witnesses have since been called to testify about the circumstances surrounding Celeste's death. Among them is one of D4vd's managers.

A friend of the singer, Neo Langston, was arrested in Montana after failing to comply with a subpoena. He was subsequently required to return to Los Angeles to provide testimony. Grand jury proceedings remain confidential, and there is no public criminal case currently available under the names referenced in court documents.

A footnote in the Texas appeals ruling refers to the 'underlying case' as 'The People of the State of California v. David Burke', the singer's legal name. The matter is listed as pending in the 506th District Court of Waller County, Texas, before Judge Gary W. Chaney.

The singer's father, Dawud, mother, Colleen, and brother, Caleb, reside in Texas and were served there. Their lawyers could not be reached for comment regarding the appeals decision, though the court's refusal to grant relief means the subpoenas remain enforceable.

Investigation Timeline And Vehicle Evidence

Detectives have spent months examining both the circumstances of Celeste's death and her reported relationship with D4vd. Investigators determined that the Tesla had been parked on Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills since late July, which coincides with the start of D4vd's national tour.

The vehicle remained on the street for several weeks, and possibly months, before it was removed. Following the discovery of the body and the ensuing investigation, the tour was cancelled as media attention grew. The cancellation occurred shortly after the case drew international coverage.

In November, LAPD Det. Joshua Byers successfully petitioned a judge to block the Los Angeles County medical examiner from releasing autopsy findings and other related details. The order included a grand jury case number, which first brought the existence of the grand jury investigation into public view.