By: Lucy Anders
A homicide investigation is intensifying around rising musical artist David Anthony Burke, also known as D4vd, after the decomposed body of missing teenager Celeste Rivas-Hernandez was discovered in the trunk of his abandoned Tesla. This shocking find has brought intense scrutiny upon the 20-year-old singer, whose career has been stalled as police piece together the timeline surrounding the 15-year-old’s death.
Rivas-Hernandez, who was just 13 when she was first reported missing from Lake Elsinore in April 2024, was found in a Hollywood tow yard on September 8. Workers had alerted authorities to a foul odor coming from the impounded vehicle, which had been towed from a public street after sitting for over 72 hours. Her body was discovered the day after what would have been her 16th birthday.
While D4vd has not been named a suspect or charged in the case, several unsettling connections have surfaced. Rivas-Hernandez’s mother told TMZ her daughter had been dating a man named David before her disappearance. A former teacher reported that Rivas-Hernandez met the singer on social media. Both the teenager and singer also reportedly had matching “Shhh…” tattoos on their right index fingers.
Further fueling online speculation are leaked lyrics from an unreleased D4vd song titled “Celeste,” which mentions a girl with a similar tattoo. The singer’s own music videos and on-stage themes, which often incorporate bloody imagery and coffins, are now being viewed by the public through a more critical lens.
The discovery has had a swift impact on D4vd’s career and personal life. He abruptly canceled the remainder of his “Withered” world tour in September and has lost several brand partnerships. Authorities also executed a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills home where D4vd had been staying, seizing electronics and other evidence. He and his manager have since vacated the $20,000-per-month rental.
The situation has also caused controversy online. D4vd has been accused of deleting critical posts from his subreddit before the community was locked down entirely. Reports also suggest that friends and moderators of the singer’s online communities were under the impression that Rivas-Hernandez was a college-aged student and hence, were not aware of her true age. As the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office continues its investigation of the case, the official cause of death has yet to be determined. Rivas-Hernandez’s remains were released to her family, and a vigil was held in her memory. No arrests have been made, but the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) continues to investigate, leaving many questions unanswered for the public and Rivas-Hernandez’s grieving family.