Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

Episode: Hollywood Hills Horror: Disturbing Evidence From Celeste's Remains and Tesla Car Data

Date: September 25, 2025

Episode Overview

Ashleigh Banfield dives into the latest developments in the chilling Hollywood Hills case involving the death of underage runaway Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed remains were found in the trunk (frunk) of a Tesla owned by rising R&B singer David (spelled D4VD). The episode focuses on two major investigative avenues: what Celeste’s remains might reveal about the manner of her death, and what vital clues could be hidden in the forensics and digital data harvested from the Tesla. Banfield draws upon expert commentary and her own irreverent, investigative tone to examine how emerging technology and old-fashioned forensic work interface in this disturbing and mysterious case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Case Background and the Tesla's Potential as Evidence (00:05–04:30)

• Celeste, a teenage runaway, was found dead in the frunk of David's 2023 Tesla Model Y after a media storm following a police raid on his home and the abrupt cancellation of his tour.
• Ashleigh emphasizes the overlooked forensic goldmine that a Tesla represents, noting:
  • Eight exterior and one interior cameras
  • “A virtual treasure trove of data” including video, GPS locations, trunk access, and drivers
  • The possibility that digital evidence could reveal more than any human witness

Quote:
“The car itself and the stories that that car can tell us, even if the dead teenager can’t.”
— Ashleigh Banfield (01:21)

2. Forensic Clues from the Condition of Celeste’s Remains

Interview with Joseph Scott Morgan, Certified Death Investigator
(06:28–14:33)

a. Advanced Decomposition or Dismemberment? (06:28–09:43)

• Banfield expresses disbelief at reports that only Celeste’s torso and head were recognizable; rumors swirl about dismemberment.
• Scott Morgan clarifies:
  • Extreme decomposition in heat can mimic effects of dismemberment
  • Celeste lost nearly 50 lbs post-mortem, likely due to advanced decomposition
  • Decomposition in a “black Tesla, in the trunk, in LA summer” is rapid and severe
  • Wrapping in plastic can further accelerate body breakdown

Quote:
“It’s literally like being in an oven… The heat and the temperature are going to dictate the rate [of decomposition].”
— Joseph Scott Morgan (08:26)

b. Timelines and Limits of Forensic Analysis (09:44–10:20)

• Pinpointing the exact time of death is nearly impossible amid such decomposition; estimates can be as broad as three weeks

Quote:
“I’d say probably they are not going to be able to narrow it down any more than about three weeks, probably.”
— Joseph Scott Morgan (10:14)

c. Drugs and Toxicology (10:21–11:18)

• Standard blood draws are ineffective; analysis focuses on brain and organs
• Detectable drug presence, but not quantity (therapeutic vs. overdose levels can’t be specified)

d. Investigating Pregnancy Theories (11:18–12:43)

• Rumors of pregnancy arise; Morgan: Only possible to determine if the uterus is intact and shows signs
• Advanced decomposition makes this difficult, especially if uterus is destroyed or missing

e. DNA, Paternity, and Remaining Evidence (12:27–13:37)

• Without recoverable fetal tissue or intact uterus, paternity or confirmation of pregnancy will be almost impossible
• Medical examiner has likely weeks of work left
• Investigators will examine skeletal injuries for trauma (e.g., skull fractures, bullet wounds)

f. Was the Car Used for Body Storage, or Merely for Disposal? (13:38–14:33)

• Morgan theorizes Celeste’s body could have been kept elsewhere before finally being placed in the car
• Suggests possibility of an attempt to distance perpetrators from the crime scene by using the car as a disposal tool

Quote:
“I still have this idea… that her body was in that car the entire time. Was it in a structure somewhere else?”
— Joseph Scott Morgan (14:06)

3. Tech Evidence: Tesla as a Crime Scene Witness

Interview with Jason Lewis, Digital Forensics Expert
(16:17–21:47)

a. What Does Tesla Record? (16:17–17:31)

• External cameras are always recording if “Sentry Mode” is active
• Internal camera records only during autopilot/self-driving use, unless user opts in

Quote:
“If you’re using the autopilot feature, then yes, the inside camera is recording at all times.”
— Jason Lewis (16:32)

b. Recoverable Data: Movements, Access, and Possibilities (17:31–19:18)

• Sentry mode could provide crucial video clips: who opened doors/trunk, timeline of events
• Car logs all trunk/door openings, tracks location history, and possibly identifies who was present (by driver and passenger actions)

c. Deletion, Encryption, and Police Access (19:18–21:03)

• Data stored both in-car (on a removable memory stick) and backed up to Tesla servers
• Owners can delete video files remotely via the Tesla app; deleted files may still be recoverable—unless overwritten
• Only Tesla can access the encrypted data on newer vehicles; police usually need a subpoena

Quote:
“On a 2023 Model Y, it’s near impossible for anyone but Tesla to actually get that data off of the vehicle due to the encryption.”
— Jason Lewis (20:47)

d. Reconstructing Who Was Present (21:03–21:47)

• Car logs which doors are opened, which seats are occupied at any given time via airbag/seat belt sensors
• Possible to establish whether only a driver was present or, say, multiple participants in disposal

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There are eight cameras around the outside of a Tesla, and it can pull in video and pictures constantly. This is technology that could tell investigators things that no eyewitness ever could.”
  — Ashleigh Banfield (02:40)
• “Either we’re missing something, or she [was] in such an advanced state of decomposition... bodies do have a tendency to break down and even liquefy to a certain degree.”
  — Joseph Scott Morgan (07:17)
• “So the question is, what could David’s Tesla tell the investigators about the final moments of Celeste’s life?”
  — Ashleigh Banfield (15:50)
• Ashleigh to Lewis: “My favorite feature is that from a remote location... I can press the button and the car will fart.” (21:47–22:00)
  • A nod to the podcast's irreverent tone amid a macabre subject.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:05–04:30 — Introduction & case overview; importance of Tesla forensics
• 06:28–14:33 — Interview with Joseph Scott Morgan (forensic findings, decomposition details)
• 16:17–21:47 — Interview with Jason Lewis (Tesla data capabilities, digital evidence prospects)
• 21:47–22:13 — Banfield’s final thoughts and what’s next in the investigation

Conclusion

Ashleigh Banfield’s episode underscores how cutting-edge technology and expert forensic analysis are blending in the search for truth in Celeste’s harrowing case. The Tesla at the center could be the most silent and significant witness—assuming investigators can retrieve its secrets. Meanwhile, the devastating toll of heat and time on Celeste’s remains leaves more questions than answers about what exactly happened to her. The case remains volatile, with both the forensics lab and Tesla Inc. themselves potentially the key to justice. Banfield promises ongoing updates as the mystery continues to unfold.