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Rising musician D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is being viewed by investigators as a suspect in the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found inside a Tesla registered to him. The case, now treated as an apparent homicide, has drawn national attention due to the disturbing circumstances surrounding the teen’s disappearance and the condition of her remains.
Celeste vanished in April 2024 after leaving her home in Lake Elsinore, California. At the time, she was only 13 years old. For more than a year, her family and authorities searched for answers. In September 2025, workers at a tow yard in the Hollywood Hills reported a foul smell coming from the front trunk of a Tesla that had been left on the lot. When officers opened the compartment, they discovered a severely decomposed body. Dental records later confirmed it was Celeste.
Although the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet determined the official cause or manner of death, the condition of the remains, including evidence of dismemberment, has led detectives to treat the case as suspicious. Police have not publicly explained how the vehicle came to be towed or why the singer’s car was abandoned.
Investigators say D4vd is now a primary suspect. Sources indicate authorities believe he has not been fully cooperative, despite early claims from his representatives that he was assisting law enforcement. Police are also exploring the possibility that others may have been involved in disposing of the body, suggesting the crime may have required more than one person.
A number of questions about the singer’s connection to Celeste have surfaced. The two were reported to have matching tattoos, prompting scrutiny into how they met and what kind of relationship existed between them. Detectives have executed search warrants at a property linked to D4vd, seizing electronics and other materials that may shed light on the timeline leading up to Celeste’s death.
In the wake of the investigation, D4vd abruptly canceled the remaining dates of his world tour, fueling further speculation about the seriousness of the case. Legal analysts note that the extent of decomposition may complicate efforts to definitively determine how Celeste died, which could present challenges should the case move toward prosecution.
As of now, D4vd has not been arrested, and no charges have been filed. The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division continues to investigate, while the public awaits clearer answers about how a missing teenager ended up dead in the vehicle of a rising music star.
