Celeste Rivas Hernandez Case Uses Rare Grand Jury – Why?

We already reported that a grand jury looks into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. But, it’s interesting to note that it’s a specific kind of grand jury that will assist investigators on going ahead with a possible arrest. Read on for more details.

The Grand Jury News

In our report, we mentioned that TMZ first broke the news that the grand jury was convened. Since then, a number of crime outlets also picked up the story. So, more news arrived about the potential charging of a suspect: D4VD, the singer. Or, some associates. So far, many people felt frustrated with reported clashes and uncooperation between the ME and the LAPD. So, maybe the grand jury helps to move things along.

In a recent Law&Crime episode, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani and host Jesse Weber analyzed the implications of an investigative grand jury for future legal action. Jesse Weber explained:

[It’s] not any grand jury, [but] a special one. We’re going to dig into whether or not this is possible, what it could mean for potential charges and suspects, and how this is all centered right now on singer David.

Conflicting Reports

Next, Weber detailed many confusing and conflicting reports. He noted that after TMZ said the LAPD reported no imminent arrests, the LA Times claimed law enforcement sources already presented evidence to a grand jury. Notably, this was an investigative grand jury. Importantly, Weber stressed this type of jury “can’t return an indictment.” So, formal charges are not yet on the table. However, he confirmed it can be important in complex cases.

Weber also clarified the current status and rumors that D4VD is a suspect. He noted, “right now, there have been no arrests in connection with Celeste’s death in any way.” He added that “David has not officially been implicated in any crime,” though reporting suggests he is a potential suspect.

A Prosecutor’s Take

Next, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained the new direction. He said, “an investigative grand jury can subpoena witnesses and documents, right? That’s its function. It can’t return an indictment.” He highlighted how unusual this is for California, where prosecutors typically avoid grand juries for preliminary hearings.

Next, Rahmani noted, “we’re coming up on 3 months since her body was found.” So, he pointed out an important aspect: “The body…has been returned to the family, right? That evidence is gone.” In his view, the necessary forensic work should have finished by now. Additionally, he wondered why officials chose the slower grand jury route. After all, people forget things and evidence can be misplaced.

The Differences

Then, to help folks understand more, Rahmani broke down the difference between a regular grand jury and an investigative one. Typically, a prosecutor uses a summary witness to get a quick indictment. However, he explained, “An investigative grand jury is very different.” He described it as being more like a deposition, meant to lock in testimony without the defense counsel present.

Essentially, it is a tool for gathering and preserving evidence, not for issuing charges. In the end, he confirmed the jury could only make recommendations, leaving a potential indictment to a separate, future panel. Well, it all sounds rather confusing, but for now, impatient true crime followers will have to see what develops.

Viewers respond

There is a lot of frustration over the case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and D4VD. One follower opined, “It’s not if David is going to prison but when.. it’s only a matter of time.”

Here are a few more responses from the discussion:

• They don’t want David’s lawyer to know what they have on him and how to prepare.
• They are not making information public for a reason. David [is] done.
• I’m not sure when ppl thought that David was excluded as a suspect. She left with him, was seen with him, and the body was in his car.
• the whole reason its being so secretive is due to the public interest in the case, and through investigation they may have evidence that doesn’t support what the public believes to be true, and to avoid public outrage until the verdict is in.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all of our true crime news and updates.