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• A key witness tied to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was arrested out of state and forced back to Los Angeles after refusing to testify before a grand jury.
• Court filings by an LAPD homicide detective describe the case as a murder investigation, despite public silence from police leadership.
• Public scrutiny is intensifying as questions persist about the adult singer’s relationship with the minor and the pace of the investigation.

[USA HERALD] - As Los Angeles authorities continue to unravel how the body of a teenage girl came to be burned and concealed inside the trunk of a Tesla linked to singer D4vd, a key grand jury witness was recently arrested in Montana and extradited back to California after failing to appear in court.

The witness, Neo Langston, a social media influencer frequently photographed with the singer, was taken into custody at his mother’s home in Helena after a Los Angeles County warrant was issued for his arrest. He was booked into the Lewis & Clark County Detention Center and transported to Los Angeles, where he was later released on $60,000 bond.

According to law enforcement sources, Langston had repeatedly refused to testify before a Los Angeles County investigative grand jury examining the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered on September 8 in a Hollywood tow yard inside a black bag placed in the trunk of the Tesla.

While the Los Angeles Police Department has declined to publicly characterize the case as a homicide, a court filing by LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division Detective Joshua Byers explicitly refers to the matter as “an investigation into murder.” That same filing persuaded a judge to block the county medical examiner from releasing autopsy results and related records that would otherwise be public.

Relationship Questions and a Growing Credibility Gap

Detectives have spent months investigating not only the circumstances of Celeste’s death, but also her relationship with the adult singer. Authorities have not filed criminal charges, nor publicly explained why no arrest has been made, even as evidence has been presented to a grand jury and multiple witnesses — including one of the singer’s managers — have been called to testify.

This silence has fueled growing public frustration.

Celeste was 14 years old when she died. Her body was discovered the day after what would have been her 15th birthday. Before records were sealed, the medical examiner’s office disclosed that she weighed just 71 pounds and had the word “Shhh” tattooed on her finger. LAPD officials have confirmed she had been dead for several weeks by the time she was found.

According to investigators, the Tesla had been parked along Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills since late July — roughly the same period the singer embarked on a national tour. The vehicle remained unattended for weeks, possibly months, until a tow-yard employee reported a foul odor emanating from the trunk.

Although portions of the tour were canceled after the investigation became public, the singer has continued to appear at venues and perform, a fact that has amplified public concern over what many view as a slow-walking investigation involving an adult public figure and a deceased minor.

To date, law enforcement has not publicly addressed allegations circulating online regarding the nature of the relationship, nor clarified what evidence — if any — is preventing an arrest while the grand jury process continues.

What’s Next

The investigative grand jury convened by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office remains active. Additional witnesses may still be compelled to testify, and prosecutors retain the option to seek indictments if probable cause is established.

Until that process concludes, proceedings remain secret by law. However, any indictment would immediately become public and could trigger arrest warrants, bail hearings, and potential suppression litigation over sealed evidence.

Absent formal charges, pressure is expected to mount on the LAPD and prosecutors to explain the status of the case and the scope of the investigation involving the singer.

About the Author

Samuel Lopez is an investigative journalist and legal analyst with USA Herald, where he covers high-stakes criminal investigations, grand jury proceedings, and cases involving institutional accountability. With more than two decades of experience in the legal sector, Lopez applies a forensic, evidence-driven approach to reporting, focusing on court records, procedural developments, and verified sources. His work emphasizes ethical reporting, public-interest accountability, and clarity in cases where official silence collides with widespread public concern.

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USA Herald delivers independent, evidence-driven reporting on the legal cases, investigations, and accountability stories shaping public trust. Our newsletter brings readers timely updates, original analysis, and developments you won’t find summarized elsewhere—direct from court records, filings, and verified sources. Readers who follow USA Herald receive ongoing coverage as cases evolve, including grand jury activity, indictments, rulings, and the real-world implications that often go unreported until it’s too late.

Sources

• Los Angeles County Superior Court filings referencing investigative grand jury proceedings
• Arrest and booking records, Lewis & Clark County Detention Center
• Statements attributed to LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division officials
• Prior disclosures by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office

🛑 It should be noted that no criminal charges have been filed at this time. Any allegations referenced remain unproven and subject to further investigation and adjudication.