he owner of a Hollywood Hills property that was searched by law enforcement authorities in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has retained the services of a licensed private investigator to independently examine the circumstances surrounding the case, following what he describes as prolonged silence from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
According to reports, the remains of 13-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been reported missing since April 2024, were discovered on September 8, 2025, in the front trunk of an impounded Tesla vehicle registered to recording artist D4vd (legal name: David Anthony Burke).
On September 17, 2025, LAPD homicide detectives executed a search warrant at the $4.1 million Hollywood Hills residence where Mr. Burke had been residing. Authorities confirmed that the search was conducted in furtherance of the homicide investigation and that several items of evidentiary value were recovered for forensic analysis. However, no arrests have been made, no suspects identified, and no official cause of death has been disclosed.
The property’s owner, Mr. Mladen Trifunovic, has since expressed deep concern regarding the lack of communication from investigators and the uncertainty surrounding the potential involvement of his property. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Mr. Trifunovic explained that he has commissioned a private investigator to review surveillance recordings, interview witnesses, and ascertain whether Ms. Rivas ever entered or stayed at the residence.
“My family and I want to understand what may or may not have happened in or around a home that is very special to us,” Mr. Trifunovic stated. “We are not interfering with the LAPD’s investigation; we are simply seeking answers that may not otherwise be communicated to us.”
At the time of the police operation, neither Mr. Burke nor his associates were reportedly present. Burke had been touring within the United States, while his manager, Josh Marshall, had leased the property on his behalf at a rate of approximately $20,000 per month. Mr. Marshall has since terminated the lease agreement and publicly stated that he never personally resided at the location.
Although unconfirmed reports have suggested that detectives were searching for blood or biological evidence, official sources have declined to specify the nature of the items seized, which allegedly included a laptop and other electronic devices.
Mr. Trifunovic further clarified that law enforcement officials have not indicated that Ms. Rivas’s death occurred on the premises and that there are no visible signs of foul play within the residence.
“Although my family and I did not know Celeste, or even know that D4vd was staying in the house, we are deeply saddened by her passing,” he said. “Because our home has become a point of focus in this investigation, we feel compelled to understand what happened.”
D4vd, aged 20, has not been charged with any offense, and his legal counsel has yet to release a public statement.
Mr. Trifunovic noted that his private investigation remains ongoing and that he intends to withhold its findings until the LAPD concludes its official inquiry.
“At this time, my investigator is not even close to completing his review,” he stated.
In summary, while the LAPD investigation remains active and confidential, Mr. Trifunovic’s engagement of an independent investigator underscores a growing private effort to uncover factual clarity in a case that continues to generate public and media attention.#newsafro_
