On September 8, 2025, a foul smell led police to a Tesla parked at a Hollywood tow yard — and inside its front trunk, they found the dismembered remains of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas-Hernandez. The vehicle was registered to 20-year-old singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke. What began as a routine tow yard inspection has exploded into one of the most disturbing true-crime investigations in recent memory, with investigators now treating the case as a homicide and D4vd as a prime suspect.
The Discovery That Shook Hollywood
The Tesla had been abandoned on a public street for two days before being towed. No one reported it missing — until the stench became unbearable. When LAPD officers opened the front trunk, they found Celeste’s remains sealed in a bag, already in advanced stages of decomposition. The body showed signs of deliberate dismemberment, suggesting the killer had both intent and mechanical knowledge. Investigators believe the murder occurred months earlier, likely in early 2025, with the body stored for months before being dumped. The timing is chilling: Celeste had last been heard from in late May 2024, after running away from her home in Lake Elsinore, California, for the fourth time.
Who Was Celeste Rivas-Hernandez?
Celeste was described by family and friends as quiet, artistic, and deeply sensitive. She loved sketching, writing poetry, and listening to indie music — including D4vd’s hauntingly popular songs like "Here with Me" and "Romantic Homicide." Her family had grown increasingly worried after she vanished in April 2024, but because she’d run away before, authorities didn’t classify her as missing until months later. Her phone last pinged near Los Angeles in May. No one knew she’d been dead — or worse, dismembered — until September.
D4vd: A Star Under Scrutiny
D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, has over 33 million monthly Spotify listeners and 3.6 million TikTok followers. His music — dark, atmospheric, often centered on themes of isolation and violence — has made him a viral sensation among Gen Z audiences. But now, investigators say his art may have crossed into reality. Sources told ABC News that D4vd “played a role in her death and got help from others in trying to dispose of her body.”
He’s not just a suspect — he’s a suspect who’s gone silent. According to multiple sources, including TMZ and People magazine, D4vd has refused to cooperate with investigators since the early days of the probe. His representatives haven’t issued a single statement. Even more telling: on September 23, 2025 — just two weeks after the body was found — he transferred ownership of his Cypress, Texas home to his mother, a move that has raised eyebrows among detectives. Was he trying to hide assets? Or simply reorganizing his life? The timing is too convenient to ignore.
The Crime Scene and the Cover-Up
The dismemberment process, investigators say, was too complex for one person. “It likely involved more than one person,” said a source familiar with the case. Tools, storage space, and help moving the body suggest accomplices. Detectives are now examining D4vd’s movements in spring 2025, including a reported late-night trip to a remote area — possibly to dispose of evidence. The Tesla itself was impounded before the discovery, meaning the body was hidden in plain sight, in a car that could have been sold or scrapped at any moment.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office is still analyzing tissue samples and trauma patterns. The official cause of death remains pending, but sources say it will be determined “within days to weeks.” Once that happens, charges are expected to follow swiftly. The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the investigation — not the NYPD, as one misinformation source incorrectly claimed.
Why This Case Resonates
This isn’t just another celebrity scandal. It’s a horrifying collision of fame, mental health, and violence. Celeste was a vulnerable teen who vanished without a trace. D4vd’s music, filled with lyrics about death and emotional detachment, has been praised for its rawness — now, it’s being scrutinized for possible real-life parallels. Fans are re-listening to his songs with dread. “Romantic Homicide” — a track about loving someone so deeply you’d kill for them — has been viewed over 200 million times. The irony is sickening.
What’s worse? No one came forward. No neighbor reported strange noises. No friend saw her with him. Her disappearance was buried under the noise of social media, her life reduced to a missing persons poster that faded into oblivion — until a smell in a tow yard brought it back.
What Happens Next?
Investigators are now chasing digital trails: cell tower pings, social media DMs, GPS data from D4vd’s phone and car. They’re interviewing friends, ex-girlfriends, studio staff, and anyone who had contact with him in 2024 and 2025. Forensic teams are re-examining the Tesla for trace evidence — hair, fibers, blood, fingerprints. If accomplices are found, charges could multiply. D4vd could face murder, dismemberment, and evidence tampering charges.
But here’s the twist: even if charges are filed, the case hinges on proving intent. Was this premeditated? Or did a volatile interaction spiral out of control? The music industry is holding its breath. Record labels are quietly distancing themselves. Streaming platforms are quietly removing his music from curated playlists.
Background: A Pattern of Silence
D4vd has never spoken publicly about his personal life. Interviews are tightly controlled. His social media is curated — mostly performance clips and cryptic quotes. He’s never mentioned his family, his childhood, or his mental health. That silence now looks like a shield. Celeste’s family, meanwhile, has not spoken to the media. They’re grieving in private, waiting for justice.
This case echoes the 2017 disappearance of Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa — where a quiet teen vanished, and the suspect only became public after months of silence. But unlike that case, here, the suspect is a global star. And the crime? Far more brutal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t D4vd been arrested yet?
Despite being named a suspect, prosecutors need conclusive forensic evidence linking D4vd directly to the murder and dismemberment. Without a confirmed cause of death, a clear timeline of Celeste’s final hours, or physical evidence like DNA or surveillance footage placing him at the scene, an arrest isn’t legally viable. Investigators are still gathering digital and forensic data, and the Medical Examiner’s report is the critical missing piece.
Could D4vd have acted alone?
Investigators believe it’s unlikely. Dismembering a human body requires significant strength, tools, and time — and the process would have left traces in a home, garage, or studio. Sources say multiple people were likely involved in moving and concealing the body. Detectives are now interviewing people connected to D4vd’s tour schedule, studio crew, and social circle in early 2025.
How did Celeste end up in D4vd’s Tesla?
The exact circumstances remain unknown, but investigators are examining whether Celeste met D4vd in person — possibly through social media or mutual contacts. Her last known location was Los Angeles, and D4vd was active in the city during spring 2025. Digital forensics may reveal if they communicated before her disappearance. The Tesla was registered under his name, making it the most logical vehicle for disposal.
What role does D4vd’s music play in the investigation?
His lyrics aren’t evidence — but they’re context. Songs like "Romantic Homicide" and "Cry for Me" contain disturbing themes of obsession and violence. Investigators are analyzing whether these themes reflect personal fantasies or actual behavior. While art isn’t a crime, repeated patterns in lyrics combined with suspicious actions raise red flags. Experts are being consulted to assess whether his music might have influenced his actions or vice versa.
Why did D4vd transfer his Texas property?
Transferring property to a family member shortly after a major crime is often seen as an attempt to shield assets from potential legal claims or forfeiture. While not illegal on its own, the timing — just two weeks after the body was found — is highly suspicious. Prosecutors may later argue it was part of a broader effort to conceal wealth tied to the crime, especially if financial records show unusual transactions around that time.
What’s the likelihood of charges being filed?
Very high — once the Medical Examiner releases the official cause of death. If it’s ruled a homicide, and if forensic evidence links D4vd to the body or the vehicle, charges are expected within weeks. The LAPD has already secured the Tesla, his phones, and his digital accounts. With over 33 million listeners, this case is under national scrutiny — and prosecutors won’t let it go without action.
