April 22, 2026 – The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) determined the cause and manner of death for 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez as multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s). The manner of death is homicide.
Ms. Rivas Hernandez was discovered at 1100 hours on September 8, 2025, in the front trunk of a vehicle in a tow yard in Los Angeles and death was pronounced by a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
A deputy medical examiner conducted an examination of Ms. Rivas Hernandez on September 10, 2025, at the DME’s Forensic Science Center. The cause and manner of death were determined December 9, 2025. A court order initiated by the LAPD previously prevented the DME from releasing its findings.
“After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo. “It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter. The transparency of the information contained in our findings and reports is essential for empowering the community to make informed changes to affectively reduce fear and allowing the community to take informed action. Making the Department’s information publicly available is not just about accountability, it is about social justice and prevention. By ensuring access to this information, we strengthen our ability to learn, to act, and ultimately to prevent the next tragic loss of life. I want to extend my gratitude to our partner agencies for taking the necessary step of filing an order with the court to make this disclosure possible.”
News media representatives may request to receive a copy of the medical examiner report by emailing pio@me.lacounty.gov. All other requests for the report must be submitted online: https://me.lacounty.gov/case-search/.
The DME case number for Ms. Rivas Hernandez is 2025-14252.
###