On October 30, 2025, private investigator Steve Fischer stunned investigators and the public by revealing he’d uncovered heavy-duty farming equipment, prescription medication bottles, and drug paraphernalia inside the $20,000-per-month Hollywood Hills rental home once occupied by singer D4vd (real name David Anthony Hernandez). The discovery came during a probe tied to the September 2025 death of 17-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose body was found inside an abandoned Tesla registered to D4vd. Fischer, hired by the property’s landlord, didn’t just find oddities—he found tools that, in this context, felt deeply out of place. "There were multiple of these items that could all be used together," Fischer told MailOnline. "Heavy-duty tools and machinery you’d never need in a Hollywood Hills home. You’d be more likely to find them on a farm."
What Was Found—and Why It Matters
Fischer’s team uncovered a rusted tiller, a propane-powered stump grinder, and a hydraulic press—all still in their original packaging, one box unopened. The items were stored in a converted garage, behind locked doors that had been bypassed during the LAPD’s earlier 12-hour search. Alongside them were bottles of oxycodone, fentanyl patches, and syringes with residue matching controlled substances. One bottle bore a prescription in the name of David Hernandez, dated just weeks before Rivas disappeared.
The location made the discovery even more jarring. Hollywood Hills is one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive neighborhoods, where homes are designed for privacy, not production. There are no fields, no livestock, no reason for a 300-pound stump grinder to be sitting next to a Tesla charging station. "It’s not just unusual," said a former LAPD evidence technician who spoke anonymously. "It’s a red flag that screams: someone didn’t live here. Someone was using it for something else."
Why the Police Missed It
The LAPD’s initial search, conducted in late September 2025, focused almost exclusively on digital evidence: laptops, phones, cloud backups, and surveillance footage from the home’s security system. They took nothing physical beyond electronics. "They were looking for digital trails," said a source close to the investigation. "They weren’t looking for farming equipment."
That’s where Fischer came in. Hired by the landlord—who grew alarmed after seeing D4vd’s late-night deliveries and the smell of diesel fuel wafting from the garage—Fischer obtained a civil search warrant based on tenant lease violations. He didn’t need probable cause for a crime. He just needed to prove the tenant had breached the rental agreement by storing hazardous or non-residential equipment. What he found went far beyond a lease violation.
Connections to Celeste Rivas
Celeste Rivas was last seen alive on September 12, 2025, near the Hollywood Hills home. Her mother, Marisol Rivas, told TMZ that Celeste had run away from home in Arizona after a falling-out. But reports from The Tab and India Times suggest Celeste may have also been known as Celeste Hernandez—a name that raises troubling questions about possible familial ties to D4vd. No official confirmation exists, but the coincidence is too strong to ignore.
On October 31, 2025, iHeart Radio reported Fischer’s chilling assessment: "These tools could’ve been used to get rid of a person." The hydraulic press, for instance, could crush bone. The stump grinder could dismember. The prescription drugs? Could have been used to sedate, or to mask symptoms of trauma. None of this proves guilt—but it paints a picture that doesn’t fit the narrative of a rising pop star living in luxury.
Public Reaction and Legal Uncertainty
As of October 31, 2025, D4vd has not been arrested, charged, or even formally named a suspect by the LAPD. The department has declined to comment on Fischer’s findings, citing an "active, ongoing investigation." But insiders say the case has shifted from "missing teen" to "possible homicide with suspicious physical evidence."
The public reaction has been swift. Social media has erupted with hashtags like #JusticeForCeleste and #FarmToolsInHollywood. Conspiracy theories abound, but so do legitimate questions: Why didn’t police search the garage? Why was equipment delivered to a $20,000/month rental in a neighborhood with no farmland? And why did D4vd leave behind items that, if found by neighbors, would have triggered immediate alarms?
What Comes Next
The LAPD has now reopened the property for a second, more thorough search under a criminal warrant. Forensic teams are examining the tools for biological traces—blood, hair, fibers. Toxicology reports on Rivas’ remains are still pending. Meanwhile, Fischer has turned over all evidence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which is reportedly considering charges of evidence tampering or obstruction if it’s proven D4vd moved or concealed items after Rivas’ disappearance.
Legal experts say this case could set a precedent. If the tools are linked to Rivas’ death, it becomes one of the first instances where agricultural equipment—typically associated with rural crime scenes—is used as forensic evidence in an urban murder investigation. "It’s not just about what was found," said criminal law professor Dr. Elena Ruiz at USC. "It’s about why it was there. And that’s the real mystery."
Background: D4vd’s Rise and the Shadow Beneath
D4vd, born David Anthony Hernandez in 2001, rose to fame in 2021 with his haunting, genre-blending pop tracks that went viral on TikTok. His music often explores themes of isolation, trauma, and hidden pain. Fans called him "the voice of the lonely generation." But behind the scenes, reports from former tour staff suggest he struggled with mental health, substance use, and erratic behavior. One former assistant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said D4vd once asked them to "find a place where no one would hear anything."
The Hollywood Hills rental was his third property in 18 months. He moved in after a public breakdown at a New York music festival in early 2025. The lease was paid in cash—$60,000 per quarter—by an LLC registered to a shell company in Delaware. The landlord had no idea who he was renting to until Fischer’s report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could the farming equipment found in D4vd’s home be linked to Celeste Rivas’ death?
While no direct forensic link has been confirmed, the tools—especially the hydraulic press and stump grinder—are capable of causing severe trauma or dismemberment. Investigators are testing for biological traces, and the fact that these items were delivered and left unopened suggests they were never intended for residential use. Their presence in a Hollywood Hills home, combined with Rivas’ body being found in a vehicle tied to D4vd, makes them a key piece of evidence in the homicide probe.
Why didn’t the LAPD find these items during their initial search?
The LAPD’s initial search focused narrowly on digital evidence—phones, laptops, and cloud data—based on the assumption that Rivas’ disappearance was tied to online activity or digital communication. They didn’t search the garage thoroughly, and the locked doors were not forced open. Private investigator Steve Fischer, working under a civil warrant for lease violations, had broader access and noticed the items immediately because they were so out of place in that environment.
Is D4vd officially a suspect in Celeste Rivas’ death?
As of October 31, 2025, D4vd has not been named a suspect or arrested. The LAPD has not released any official statement linking him to the crime. However, the discovery of the tools and controlled substances has significantly escalated the investigation. The District Attorney’s Office is now reviewing whether to pursue charges for evidence concealment or obstruction, even if homicide charges are not yet warranted.
What role did prescription drugs play in this case?
The bottles of oxycodone and fentanyl patches found in the home were prescribed to David Hernandez, not Celeste Rivas. Authorities are investigating whether these drugs were used to sedate Rivas before her death, or if they were part of a pattern of self-medication that may have contributed to erratic behavior. Toxicology reports on Rivas’ remains are still pending, but the presence of potent opioids in the same location where she was last seen alive raises serious concerns.
Could Celeste Rivas be related to D4vd?
Reports from The Tab and India Times suggest Celeste Rivas may have also been known as Celeste Hernandez, hinting at a possible familial connection. However, no official records confirm this. D4vd’s mother has never publicly acknowledged a child named Celeste, and Rivas’ biological mother, Marisol Rivas, has not confirmed any relationship. Investigators are now reviewing adoption records and birth certificates to determine if there’s a hidden link.
What’s the significance of the equipment still being in its delivery box?
The fact that the stump grinder and hydraulic press were still sealed in their original packaging suggests they were never meant for use—only storage. This implies the items may have been delivered for a specific, one-time purpose, then abandoned. It’s consistent with someone who needed the tools for a single act and then feared being caught with them. In criminal investigations, unopened equipment like this often indicates intent rather than utility.
