It’s been weeks since the body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla at a Los Angeles tow yard—the Tesla linked to rising R&B star D4vd.
While much has been made of the autopsy and cause of death, which has been ‘deferred,’ the biggest key to the mystery may actually be the Tesla itself.
While police publicly aren’t sharing many details at all, and while Tesla has not responded to KTLA’s multiple requests for comment, here’s what we know:
Tesla is one of the most high-tech cars on the market. It comes with Sentry Mode—a series of external and internal cameras that can record what happens inside and around a car, and even alert an owner to movement around the car when activated.
We asked KTLA’s legal analyst Alison Triessl what could be happening behind the scenes. Triessl says, “It is likely that law enforcement has already been in contact with Tesla and has sent Tesla a search warrant seeking information.”
As for any future criminal prosecution, she says the “prosecution will absolutely subpoena all video and the event data recorder (EDR) information from Tesla under California Evidence Code section 9951(c), and Tesla must comply.”
Triessl explains that California Evidence Code 9951(c) states that the event data recorders (EDR) may not be retrieved by a person other than the registered owner of the motor vehicle, except under one of the following circumstances:
- If the owner consents
- In response to an order of a court having jurisdiction to issue the order
- If probable cause can be determined to show that the video device has evidence relating to the crime, then a judge can approve a search warrant and subpoena the device
As for the Tesla itself, even though it may be done being processed, it is still likely in police custody since this remains an active investigation.
Still no official suspects. Still no arrests. The L.A. County DA’s office confirmed to KTLA that as of Tuesday, Sept. 30, no case has been presented to their office for filing consideration.
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