Celeste Rivas Cause of Death Remains Unclear as Frozen Body Limits Answers

Authorities say the cause of death for Celeste Rivas may never be determined after her frozen and dismembered body was found inside a vehicle in Los Angeles. The L.A. County Medical Examiner is struggling to make a conclusive ruling due to the condition of the remains.

Investigators received the body on November 22 in pieces, partially frozen, and removed of limbs. Officials say the state of the remains has made determining how Rivas died extremely difficult.

New Details on Why the Celeste Rivas Cause of Death May Stay Undetermined

The L.A. County Medical Examiner received Celeste Rivas’s remains in severe condition. Her torso was intact, but her limbs had been removed, cut into multiple pieces, and partially frozen. Officials say the body appeared to have been thawing after being stored in the trunk of a Tesla belonging to musician D4vd.

Investigators say the vehicle had not been moved for several days while parked in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood near a rental home. After it was towed, authorities located the remains during the standard impound inspection. The initial discovery was so severe that investigators could not immediately determine if the victim was male or female.

The Medical Examiner first labeled the case an “apparent homicide,” but sources say officials are now unable to identify an exact cause of death. Freezing and dismemberment have compromised key evidence. Authorities expect the final ruling to be “undetermined,” although the manner of death is still viewed as suspicious.

Law enforcement sources report that LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division is treating the case as a homicide regardless of the M.E.’s challenges. Police say an undetermined official ruling does not prevent them from making arrests or bringing charges based on supporting evidence.

D4vd has been identified as a suspect. Investigators also believe a second individual helped with the dismemberment. A criminal defense attorney stated publicly that the second suspect may have been involved before, during, and after Rivas’s death.

Another key element in the investigation is a trip D4vd allegedly took to a remote part of Santa Barbara County earlier in the year. Officials believe he spent roughly two hours at the location. Investigators are working to determine whether Rivas’s remains were transported there months before being placed in the vehicle.

How the Investigation Moves Forward as Questions Surround the Case

The Celeste Rivas cause of death may remain officially undetermined, but investigators are continuing to build a timeline. Detectives are reviewing digital records, examining travel routes, and interviewing individuals connected to both suspects.

Experts say a homicide case can move ahead without a definitive medical ruling if supporting evidence points to criminal activity. That includes witness statements, forensic findings unrelated to the cause of death, and behavioral evidence before and after the incident.

Authorities continue to piece together how the body was frozen, when the dismemberment occurred, and who else may have been involved. This case has drawn national attention due to its disturbing nature and the unusual forensic complications created by the condition of the remains.

The coming weeks are likely to focus on identifying the second suspect, reconstructing the timeline, and determining how the frozen state of the remains fits into the broader investigative theory surrounding the Celeste Rivas cause of death.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Why is the Celeste Rivas cause of death still undetermined?

Officials say her remains were frozen and dismembered, making traditional forensic analysis difficult. Key indicators of trauma were compromised.

Q2: Is the investigation still being treated as a homicide?

Yes. LAPD detectives continue to treat the case as a homicide despite the Medical Examiner’s challenges in determining an exact cause of death.

Q3: Why is D4vd considered a suspect?

Rivas’s remains were found in his vehicle, and investigators say earlier travel records place him in remote areas where evidence may have been moved.

Q4: Can authorities make an arrest without a confirmed cause of death?

Yes. Officials can move forward if other evidence supports a homicide theory, even when the Medical Examiner lists the cause as undetermined.

Q5: What role does the second suspect allegedly play?

Investigators believe a second person helped with the dismemberment and may have been involved before and after Rivas’s death.