Legal Shockwave: Prosecutors Seek Custody Order for Witness Who Refused to Testify in D4vd Tesla Homicide Probe
The investigation into the tragic death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez—whose body was found inside a Tesla registered to the platinum-selling artist D4vd—has spiraled from a police probe into a gripping, high-stakes legal drama marked by secrecy, defiance, and the shocking threat of state-sanctioned detention.
New reports emerging from the Los Angeles courthouse suggest that the grand jury process, which is currently hearing evidence in connection with the case, has hit an unprecedented wall: a key female witness has allegedly refused to cooperate, prompting prosecutors to seek a rarely-used, extreme legal measure known as a “body attachment.” This maneuver, which would effectively compel the witness to testify by taking her into custody, signals a desperate and determined effort by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office to break through a wall of silence that many believe is being erected by the singer’s powerful inner circle.
This unfolding courtroom battle is no longer simply about finding answers in a tragedy; it is about a direct confrontation between the judicial system’s pursuit of truth and a celebrity’s determined attempts to control the flow of information.
The Unprecedented Threat of a ‘Body Attachment’
The center of the current storm is an unidentified female witness who reportedly failed to show up to testify before the grand jury. For a prosecutor to resort to forcing a witness’s appearance is highly unusual and reveals the gravity of the obstruction faced by the state.
Deputy Los Angeles District Attorney Beth Silverman, a career prosecutor with experience in major murder cases, was reportedly overheard in the courthouse hallway informing attorney Evan Jennis of her intent to petition the judge for the body attachment. As legal experts explain, a “body attachment” is far more than a routine subpoena; it is an order to law enforcement to physically detain an unwilling or “recalcitrant” witness and bring them into court. It is a powerful, almost desperate measure that essentially turns a non-criminal participant into a person held in state custody until they comply with the legal process.
The consensus among legal analysts is clear: a judge would never issue such an order for a mere mistake, such as an absent-minded witness forgetting the date. The step is reserved only for individuals who are actively dodging service or refusing to comply, indicating a deliberate effort to shield information. This fact alone confirms that the grand jury proceedings are uncovering information deemed critical to the case and that someone, or some entity, is going to extraordinary lengths to keep that information hidden from view.
The move to petition for a body attachment casts an immediate and severe shadow over D4vd’s team, raising immediate and intense speculation about the identity of the witness and, more importantly, what she knows.
The Manager, the Tour, and the Alleged Moral Failure
The escalating legal drama is compounded by the alleged testimony of Robert Morgan Roth, the president of D4vd’s touring company, Zara Brothers Travel, and his record label, Mogul Vision. Roth was questioned extensively before the grand jury, and his alleged comments in the hallway after the hearing sent a seismic shockwave through the legal reporting world.
Roth was reportedly overheard telling his lawyer, Evan Jennis, that the prosecutor was “very pushy on why I didn’t call police.” His alleged justification was even more chilling: “I feel like I didn’t have the responsibility to do that and just wanted to continue with the tour.”
This single alleged quote raises profound ethical and potentially legal questions. If true, it suggests an alarming decision where the immediate business interest—keeping a profitable tour running—was prioritized over reporting the discovery of a deceased minor’s body. For the public and for the family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, this statement implies an active attempt to conceal, delay, or cover up events to protect the professional assets of the celebrity artist.
The tension between the prosecutor, Silverman, who is aggressively pursuing accountability, and the apparent ethical detachment of those in D4vd’s orbit, underscores the extreme challenge facing law enforcement. They are not merely investigating a crime; they are fighting against what appears to be a deeply ingrained culture of celebrity protection and self-interest.
Ties That Bind: The Inner Circle of Secrecy
The connections between the key players in the case further reinforce the theory that the non-cooperation is a coordinated attempt at obstruction. Attorney Evan Jennis represents Robert Morgan Roth, the tour manager. Crucially, as legal commentators have pointed out, Jennis is also believed to represent the unidentified female witness who is now facing the body attachment.
In a criminal investigation, a lawyer representing multiple parties is not uncommon, but in this specific context—where one client is a high-ranking member of the singer’s business team, and the other is a witness refusing to testify—it strongly suggests that the recalcitrant witness is deeply embedded in D4vd’s inner circle. They are, in all likelihood, an employee, associate, or close personal connection to the singer, privy to information that could dismantle the wall of plausible deniability that currently shields the star.
Furthermore, the focus on D4vd’s management team extends beyond Roth. The singer reportedly has a second manager, Josh Marshall, who allegedly signed the lease for the Hollywood Hills property D4vd was staying at. This property was reportedly near where the Tesla—with Celeste’s body in the front trunk—was found, and it was later searched by authorities. The fact that managers are handling residential leases and are allegedly making decisions about reporting crimes indicates a highly controlled and financially driven environment that may prioritize the star’s insulation from personal responsibility above all else.
Veils of Secrecy: Sealing the Records of Death
While the investigation has been plagued by leaks from grand jury witnesses—who are not legally bound to secrecy—the LAPD has managed to maintain an aggressive level of control over the most sensitive facts of the case. In an unusual move, they successfully petitioned the court to seal the Medical Examiner’s (ME) records, including the official cause and manner of death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The police stated this order was sought to ensure detectives could gather critical information before it reached the media and the public. While LAPD claims this was not an effort to undermine transparency, the move serves as a stark reminder of the information vacuum that has defined the case since September. The public remains starved for crucial details, only learning about the investigation’s progress through reported leaks about aggressive grand jury questioning and the unprecedented legal threats being levied against witnesses.
This calculated sealing of information protects the integrity of the investigation, preventing potential suspects from gaining an advantage, but it also elevates the emotional tension. The absence of a formal cause of death leaves the nature of the crime—homicide, accident, or otherwise—open to the wildest speculation, only heightening the urgency for the grand jury to secure all available testimony.
A Difficult Road Ahead for Prosecutors
Despite the intense scrutiny and the legal firepower being amassed, D4vd has not been arrested or officially charged with any wrongdoing, though he is reportedly considered a suspect.
Legal experts highlight the inherent difficulties of the case. Starting an investigation with a decomposing body, as the Tesla had been reportedly left for some time, means that physical evidence is degraded. The key to the prosecution’s success, therefore, relies heavily on securing witness testimony and reconstructing the timeline. The aggressive use of the grand jury—which may be an investigative grand jury meant to gather evidence and recommend charges—is a sign of the struggle to compile a complete picture.
The challenge for Deputy DA Silverman, should she try the case, would be immense. She must contend with the immense financial resources D4vd can leverage for his defense, the constant pressure of a high-profile case, and the difficulty of compelling the truth from a fearful or loyal inner circle. The path to accountability is now inextricably linked to the success of the body attachment. The legal community is watching, well aware that the outcome of this struggle will not only determine the fate of a young woman’s killer but also set a precedent for how the judicial system navigates the impenetrable walls built by modern celebrity culture. This legal shockwave has just begun, and the world is waiting to see whose wall breaks first: the silence of the inner circle or the resolve of the prosecution.
