At least one witness in the Celeste Rivas death investigation has been uncooperative.
According to TMZ, Beth Silverman, the District Deputy Attorney in Los Angeles County, is requesting a “body attachment” for an unnamed female witness who failed to show up for a deposition Wednesday.
A judge ordered the witness to testify in connection with Celeste’s death, which is being treated as a homicide.
Celeste was reportedly the girlfriend of singer D4vd, also known as David Anthony Burke. Police found Celeste’s body the day after what would have been her 15th birthday.
Following the hearing, Silverman said she’s requested for authorities to take the witness into custody, to testify.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Los Angeles police found Celeste’s body on September 8, inside the Tesla registered to Burke. The vehicle had initially been parked near Burke’s former rental home, in the flourishing Bird Streets neighborhood, in Hollywood Hills.
Police found the vehicle at a tow yard in Hollywood after residents in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood contacted police about an abandoned car with a Texas license plate on September 6.
Although no arrests have been made, prosecutors brought the case before an investigative grand jury.
During a court hearing Monday, the prosecution pressed Burke’s manager, Robert Morgenrot, on why he never contacted police. Morgenroth reportedly said he had been trying to keep Burke’s tour going and didn’t think it was his obligation.
“She was very pushy on why I didn’t call police,” Morgenroth said outside the court Monday in Los Angeles, in reference to Silverman. “I said I feel like I didn’t have the responsibility to do that, and just wanted to continue with the tour.”
According to TMZ, Morgenroth served as Burke’s “day-to-day manager.” He’s also the president of Burke’s tour company, Zara Brothers Travel.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell appeared on Good Day LA, but declined to discuss specifics about the case.
“That’s a case I won’t talk about at this time because it’s an ongoing case. To do so would potentially jeopardize the case,” McDonnell said.
“There was some talk too about our request to keep the information confidential that the coroner was looking to release, and our goal there is not to impede transparency.”
“All of this will come out eventually anyway.”
Last month, a judge placed a security hold on the case barring details — including the cause and manner of death and the autopsy report — from release, following a court order initiated by the LAPD.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Celeste Rivas/GoFundMe and D4vd in 2024/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP]