The body of Celeste Rivas-Hernandez, a 15-year-old girl from Lake Elsinore, California, was discovered inside the front trunk of an impounded Tesla in Hollywood on September 8, 2024 — a grim find that has turned the spotlight on singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke. The vehicle, registered to Burke, had been abandoned on a Los Angeles street for two days before a tow yard worker noticed a foul odor and called authorities. What began as a routine tow-yard inspection became one of the most chilling cases in recent Los Angeles history — and now, investigators say they’re confident they’re on the right track toward identifying who killed her.
How a Tesla Became a Grave
The Tesla sat at a private tow lot in Hollywood, its frunk sealed shut, until LAPD officers pried it open. Inside, wrapped in a plastic bag, was a body in advanced decomposition. No signs of forced entry or struggle were found on the car itself — suggesting the victim was placed there intentionally, quietly. The vehicle’s registration tied directly to D4vd, a 20-year-old musician with over 33 million monthly Spotify listeners and hits like "Romantic Homicide" and "Here with Me." The irony wasn’t lost on those following the case. His music, often exploring themes of isolation, obsession, and dark romance, now feels hauntingly prescient.
Celeste had been reported missing by her family in early April 2024 after her third runaway episode. She’d returned home twice before, but this time, she vanished without a trace. Her last known contact with family was a brief call at the end of May 2024. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office confirmed she had a pattern of leaving home — sometimes for days, sometimes weeks — but nothing like this. No one heard from her again.
Connections to D4vd and a Trail of Suspicious Moves
Investigators didn’t connect D4vd to the case immediately. But digital footprints and financial records began to paint a troubling picture. On September 17, 2024, deputies showed up at his parents’ home in Cypress, Texas — only to find it was a fake swatting call. Days later, on September 23, property records show D4vd transferred ownership of that same Cypress home to his mother’s name. It wasn’t a sale. It wasn’t a gift with documentation. It was a quiet reassignment — the kind people make when they’re trying to distance themselves from assets.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, detectives executed a search warrant on a Hollywood Hills rental home where D4vd had been staying. The lease had been terminated early, and he’d moved out before the warrant was served. Investigators walked out with a computer, hard drives, and other digital devices. The homeowner, alarmed by what might have happened on his property, hired private investigator Steve Fischer. Fischer told ABC7 the home was rented by D4vd’s manager at Interscope Records. "He wants to understand if his house played a role," Fischer said. "That’s not paranoia. That’s responsibility."
Timeline Conflicts and the Mystery of the Last Seen Date
Here’s where things get murky. Fischer claims the last verified sighting of Celeste was January 2, 2025 — a date that contradicts every other public record. The body was found in September 2024. She was reported missing in April. The medical examiner’s office hasn’t ruled on cause of death due to decomposition, but sources say investigators are "certain they are going down the right path for a suspect." That suggests the timeline isn’t about when she died — but when she was placed in the car.
Some experts believe the body may have been stored elsewhere before being moved to the Tesla. Refrigeration? A storage unit? A second vehicle? The LAPD hasn’t confirmed any of this, but the fact that they’re still actively interviewing multiple people — and haven’t made an arrest — tells us they’re piecing together a complex chain of events. There’s no evidence yet that D4vd was in direct contact with Celeste. But the car, the timing, the transfer of property, the search warrant — it’s all pointing toward someone who knew how to disappear, and how to cover tracks.
What This Means for Fans, the Music Industry, and Justice
D4vd’s rise was meteoric. His music, often whispered in late-night TikTok feeds, resonated with teens navigating anxiety, heartbreak, and loneliness. His lyrics — "I’d kill for you, but I’d rather die with you" — now echo in the background of a real-life tragedy. Fans are divided. Some are in shock. Others are calling for accountability. The music industry, meanwhile, is holding its breath. Interscope Records has issued no public statement. No one has been charged. But the case is no longer just a missing persons inquiry. It’s a homicide investigation.
The medical examiner’s final report is expected in the coming weeks. Once cause of death is determined — whether it’s trauma, asphyxiation, or something else — prosecutors will have the green light to file charges. If D4vd is formally named as the suspect, this won’t just be a criminal case. It’ll be a cultural reckoning: What happens when art blurs with reality? When a voice that speaks for the lost becomes the subject of their silence?
What’s Next?
Investigators are reportedly reviewing surveillance footage from gas stations, parking lots, and toll booths around Los Angeles between April and August 2024. They’re also examining phone records, social media activity, and financial transactions linked to D4vd’s accounts. A key question remains: Did Celeste ever enter the Tesla voluntarily? Or was she forced?
Meanwhile, her family continues to grieve in silence. They’ve declined interviews. But in a statement released through the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, they wrote: "We just want to know what happened to our daughter. We just want her back — even if it’s only in pieces."
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t D4vd been arrested yet?
No arrest has been made because investigators still need to confirm the cause and manner of death, which is complicated by the body’s advanced decomposition. Without a definitive forensic conclusion, prosecutors can’t meet the burden of proof required for charges. Authorities are gathering digital evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing timelines — but they’re proceeding cautiously to avoid a wrongful accusation.
How did Celeste Rivas-Hernandez end up in a Tesla registered to D4vd?
That’s the central unanswered question. Investigators are examining whether D4vd or someone connected to him had access to Celeste’s whereabouts between April and August 2024. The car was abandoned in Los Angeles in early September, but the body may have been placed inside days or weeks earlier. No direct evidence links Celeste to D4vd yet — but the vehicle’s ownership, combined with his movements and the search warrant, make him the primary person of interest.
What role did Interscope Records play in this case?
Interscope Records rented the Hollywood Hills home where D4vd was staying, according to private investigator Steve Fischer. While the label hasn’t commented publicly, their involvement raises questions about oversight and responsibility. Did they know where their artist was living? Were they aware of his movements? The company’s silence has fueled speculation, but no evidence currently ties the label to the crime.
Why did D4vd transfer his Texas home to his mother?
Transferring property ownership can be legal — but in the context of an active homicide investigation, it raises red flags. It may be an attempt to shield assets from potential legal claims or forfeiture. While not proof of guilt, it’s a tactical move often seen when someone anticipates legal trouble. Investigators are reviewing the transfer’s timing and documentation to determine if it was an effort to conceal assets.
Is there any evidence D4vd and Celeste knew each other?
As of now, no direct evidence — like texts, social media messages, or eyewitness accounts — has been publicly confirmed linking D4vd and Celeste. However, investigators are analyzing digital trails, including location data from his phone and the Tesla, as well as any potential overlap in their movements through Southern California. The absence of proof isn’t proof of absence — and that’s why the investigation remains open.
What happens if the medical examiner can’t determine the cause of death?
Even without a definitive cause, prosecutors can still pursue charges if they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the death was a homicide and that D4vd was responsible. Circumstantial evidence — like moving the body, lying about whereabouts, and transferring assets — can be enough for a case. The cause of death would strengthen the prosecution, but it’s not always required. Cases have been won on motive, opportunity, and behavior alone.