The Secrecy Order
In a declaration filed to the Los Angeles Superior Court, LAPD Detective Joshua Byers of the elite Robbery Homicide Division argued that transparency at this stage could be fatal to the case. Byers stated that making autopsy findings public “will reveal the ongoing investigation... as well as the identity of witnesses who are cooperating.”
Superior Court Judge Craig Richman granted the request, ordering that all findings, including the cause and manner of death, be sealed. This marks a definitive shift from earlier statements where investigators declined to label the death a homicide.
Medical Examiner Pushes Back
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office is challenging the order, arguing such secrecy is outdated. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo issued a statement questioning the efficacy of the LAPD’s tactics.
"The practice of security holds is virtually unheard of in other counties and has not been proven to improve outcomes in the legal system. We are dedicated to serving our community with full transparency; however, the law precludes us from doing so while the court order remains in this case."
A Grim Discovery
The investigation began on September 8, when detectives discovered the badly decomposed remains of Hernandez at a Hollywood tow yard. The Tesla belonging to the multiplatinum musician D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke) had been towed from the Hollywood Hills after being abandoned for weeks.
Hernandez, a runaway who had been missing since spring, was found in the trunk inside a black bag. Early records released before the gag order noted she weighed only 71 pounds and had a distinctive "Shhh" tattoo on her finger.
"Romantic Homicide"
The case has drawn intense scrutiny due to D4vd's rise to fame with songs like "Romantic Homicide" and music videos depicting themes of violence. In one video, the singer is seen dragging a body to a car trunk—a detail that now bears a chilling resemblance to the reality of the investigation.
While no official suspect has been named, LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton emphasized that the scope of the investigation is wide. "Accountability is coming," Hamilton stated last week. "No one is off the table, including him."