How D4vd’s Midnight Tesla Trip Changed the Celeste Rivas Case

LAPD detectives are now looking at a midnight Tesla trip to Santa Barbara County as a turning point in the Celeste Rivas homicide investigation. The late-night drive, tied to singer D4vd’s vehicle, has helped investigators identify a second suspect using digital data and location records. The case is still active, and no charges have been filed yet.

The timeline has been rebuilt using cellphone data, Tesla logs and social media location traces. Attorney Mark Geragos shared new details on the 2 Angry Men podcast, describing how layered digital evidence linked multiple people to the same suspicious journey. His comments suggest police are now examining possible coordinated actions before, during and after Rivas’ death.

Tesla data and a late-night drive reshape the Celeste Rivas case

According to Geragos, LAPD homicide detectives have quietly focused on a nighttime trip from Los Angeles to a remote part of Santa Barbara County last spring. The trip was reportedly made in a Tesla connected to D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke. Investigators are working from the theory that Rivas’ body may have been inside the vehicle during that journey, based on what they have learned from people close to the case and from digital records.

Modern Tesla vehicles record extensive telemetry, including routes, speed, stops and some in-car activity. When paired with cellphone location pings and app data, that information can show who was likely in the car and when they entered or exited. Geragos said this combination of data helped point detectives toward a second suspect who may have been present on the Santa Barbara County trip and involved at several stages of the timeline.

Law enforcement sources have already confirmed to national outlets that D4vd is being treated as a suspect in the death of Celeste Rivas, whose decomposed body was found in a Tesla registered in his name earlier this year. Major organizations such as TMZ, ABC News, Rolling Stone and People have reported that investigators are treating the case as a potential homicide and believe others may have helped move or hide the body. These reports align with the podcast claims that police are now mapping out the roles of more than one person.

The medical examiner has not yet released a final cause and manner of death. Officials have publicly described the ruling as “deferred,” meaning more testing and analysis are needed. Until that report is complete, prosecutors will be cautious about filing murder charges, even as the digital trail continues to grow. For now, the Santa Barbara trip and the second suspect remain part of a broader evidentiary picture that is still being assembled.

How digital trails are defining the investigation

The Rivas case shows how deeply digital evidence shapes modern homicide work. Detectives are using smartphone location histories, vehicle data, traffic and security cameras, and online posts to reconstruct movements across months. In this case, the focus on a single nighttime drive grew into a larger digital map of who went where, with whom, and when.

For investigators, the remote Santa Barbara County stop is significant because of its timing and isolation. A late-night trip to an out-of-the-way location naturally raises questions, especially when tied to a car later found holding human remains. Analysts can look at how long the Tesla stayed in that area, whether other phones or vehicles appeared nearby, and whether the route in or out included unusual detours or stops.

Reports from outlets such as People and ABC News note that police believe Rivas was dead for weeks before her body was discovered in the impounded Tesla and that there may have been help in dismembering and disposing of her remains. When combined with the podcast revelations, this suggests detectives are building a layered theory: that multiple people may have planned, assisted or covered up key parts of what happened, even if they had different roles.

At the same time, investigators must balance public pressure with strict evidentiary standards. A suspect label does not equal a conviction, and digital trails can be powerful but also complex to interpret in court. Every movement, ping and log entry will eventually need to be explained under oath, alongside physical forensics and witness testimony.

For now, the midnight Tesla trip has become a central thread in the story of how a teenager’s body ended up in an abandoned car and why D4vd and at least one other person are under such intense scrutiny. As the medical examiner’s findings and more digital evidence come together, the question is whether this digital trail will be enough to turn a high-profile investigation into a prosecutable homicide case.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What is the midnight Tesla trip in the Celeste Rivas investigation?

It refers to a late-night drive to a remote area of Santa Barbara County made in a Tesla linked to D4vd. Investigators believe that trip may be tied to the movement of Rivas’ body and possible involvement of a second suspect.

Q2: How did Tesla data help identify a second suspect?

Telemetry from the Tesla, combined with cellphone and app location data, allowed detectives to track who likely traveled in the car and when. That digital trail pointed to another person who may have been present on the Santa Barbara County trip and involved in key moments.

Q3: Is D4vd officially charged in the Celeste Rivas case?

No charges have been filed as of now. Multiple outlets report that police consider him a suspect, but they are still waiting on final medical examiner findings and continue to gather digital and physical evidence.

Q4: Why is the medical examiner’s report so important here?

The medical examiner must determine cause and manner of death before prosecutors can confidently pursue homicide charges. Because the remains were decomposed, the ruling is “deferred,” and additional testing and review are required.

Q5: What role does the 2 Angry Men podcast play in this story?

Attorney Mark Geragos used the podcast to share what he learned from people close to the investigation. His comments highlighted the Santa Barbara trip and digital tracking as major reasons investigators believe a second suspect is involved.

References

TMZ. (2025). “D4vd Viewed as Suspect by Investigators in Celeste Rivas’ Apparent Homicide.” Published November 18, 2025.