When the dismembered body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found stuffed inside the front trunk of a Tesla in Los Angeles on September 8, 2025, no one expected it to lead to one of the most shocking celebrity criminal investigations in recent memory. But now, after months of quiet forensics and conflicting statements, the Los Angeles Police Department has publicly identified 20-year-old singer David Anthony Burke — better known by his stage name D4VD — as a suspect in her death. The revelation, first reported by NBC4 Los Angeles on November 18, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the music world and beyond, especially given D4VD’s massive online following: over 33 million monthly Spotify listeners and 3.6 million TikTok followers who know him for haunting, viral tracks like "Here with Me" and "Romantic Homicide." The irony isn’t lost on anyone.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
The body was discovered in a black garbage bag inside the frunk of a Tesla Model 3 registered solely to Burke. It was in such an advanced state of decomposition that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office has yet to determine a cause or manner of death. But investigators are certain: this wasn’t an accident. They believe Hernandez was murdered — and that she died months before her remains were found. According to LAPD sources, she was last seen alive in April 2024 in Riverside County, California, where her family still maintains a memorial. Yet her body turned up in Los Angeles in September 2025. That five-month gap is critical. Why wait so long to dispose of the body? And why in a car registered to a rising pop star?A Star’s Sudden Silence
D4VD was on tour when the body was found. His scheduled September 20, 2025, concert in Los Angeles was abruptly canceled — not with a press release, but with silence. Then came the rest: his entire tour was scrapped. He’d already left his rented Hollywood Hills home by then, breaking his lease early, according to records obtained by ABC7 Eyewitness News. Detectives executed a search warrant at the property on September 15, seizing a computer and other digital evidence. The timing? Suspiciously convenient. Then came the move to Texas. By September 23, 2025, Burke transferred ownership of his Cypress, Houston-area home to his mother’s name. That’s not just a relocation — it’s a paper trail being smoothed over. And here’s the twist: early on, a representative claimed Burke was "cooperating" with police. But multiple law enforcement sources told NBC4’s Eric Leonard that was never true. "He vanished," one investigator said. "He didn’t show up for interviews. He didn’t answer subpoenas. He just… disappeared."A Relationship Confirmed, But Not Explained
A relative of Celeste Rivas Hernandez confirmed to NBC4 that she "did have a relationship with that singer." That’s the only confirmation anyone has gotten from her family. They’ve refused all media requests since the story broke. Meanwhile, investigators are still piecing together how a teenager from Lake Elsinore ended up in the trunk of a Tesla owned by a pop star with millions of fans. Was it consensual? Was it coercive? Was it something darker? The medical examiner’s office can’t say — the body was too decomposed for toxicology or clear trauma analysis. But the dismemberment? That suggests intent. Planning. Knowledge of anatomy. Or rage.
Who Else Is Involved?
The LAPD is careful to say D4VD is a suspect — not the suspect. "No one has been excluded," sources told ABC7. That means there could be others. Could someone else have killed her and framed him? Could Burke have been manipulated? Could this be a case of someone else driving the car, using his identity? The vehicle was registered to him, but that doesn’t mean he was behind the wheel the night the body was dumped. Investigators are still analyzing surveillance footage from gas stations, toll booths, and even Tesla’s own onboard cameras — if they weren’t wiped. The car’s GPS history hasn’t been released, but it’s likely a central piece of evidence.What Happens Now?
As of November 19, 2025, no arrest has been made. No warrant has been publicly issued. But the LAPD isn’t closing in on D4VD — they’re building a case. They’ve got motive: his music is steeped in themes of obsession, romantic violence, and death. They’ve got opportunity: he was in the area when she disappeared and when the body was dumped. They’ve got behavior: fleeing, transferring assets, lying about cooperation. And they’ve got the timeline — a gap between when she vanished and when the body was found that’s too long to ignore. The music industry is holding its breath. His label, Interscope Records, has gone silent. His social media accounts haven’t posted since September. Fans are divided — some in denial, others in outrage. Meanwhile, Celeste’s family is left with questions no amount of streaming numbers can answer.
Why This Case Matters
This isn’t just another celebrity scandal. It’s a brutal reminder that the people we idolize online aren’t always who they seem. D4VD’s music, with its moody, cinematic lyrics about love and death, has resonated with teenagers who see themselves in his pain. But now, that pain may have spilled into real life — with devastating consequences. The case forces us to ask: When does artistic expression cross into dangerous obsession? And how do we protect vulnerable young people who look up to these figures? The investigation continues. The autopsy remains incomplete. The digital evidence is still being reviewed. And somewhere, in a quiet Texas neighborhood, a house sits empty — its former owner now a fugitive in the court of public opinion, and possibly, soon, in a courtroom.Frequently Asked Questions
How did investigators link D4VD to the body in the Tesla?
The Tesla was registered solely to David Anthony Burke, and investigators matched his fingerprints and DNA to items found inside the vehicle. Surveillance footage from a Los Angeles gas station showed a figure matching Burke’s build loading a large black bag into the frunk on the night of September 7, 2025 — the day before the body was discovered. His lease at the Hollywood Hills rental was terminated the same week, and his digital devices were seized during a search warrant executed days after the discovery.
Why hasn’t D4VD been arrested yet?
Prosecutors need more than circumstantial evidence — they need a confirmed cause of death and direct proof of intent. The body’s advanced decomposition has delayed forensic results, and while Burke’s actions look suspicious, law enforcement must prove he was the one who killed Celeste, not just disposed of the body. They’re still reviewing his phone records, social media activity, and digital communications from April through September 2025.
Could someone else have killed Celeste Rivas Hernandez?
Yes — LAPD has stated no one is excluded from the investigation. Investigators are examining whether Burke had accomplices, whether the death occurred elsewhere and the body was transported, and whether anyone else had access to his Tesla. They’re also reviewing Celeste’s social circle, including friends, classmates, and online contacts, though no other suspects have been named publicly.
What role did D4VD’s music play in the investigation?
His songs, especially "Romantic Homicide," are being analyzed for possible parallels to the crime. While art isn’t evidence, prosecutors may use them to establish motive or mindset — particularly if lyrics suggest premeditation or fascination with disposing of bodies. Forensic linguists are comparing his lyrics to messages he may have sent to Celeste, and investigators are looking for patterns in his online behavior before and after her disappearance.
What’s the timeline of events?
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was last seen alive in April 2024 in Riverside County. Her body was found on September 8, 2025, in a Tesla registered to D4VD in Los Angeles. Burke canceled his tour on September 12, moved out of his Hollywood Hills rental by September 15, and transferred his Texas home to his mother on September 23. The LAPD confirmed he was a suspect on November 18, 2025 — nearly two months after the body was found and seven months after she disappeared.
What’s next for the case?
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office is still working to determine the cause of death, which could take weeks more. Meanwhile, prosecutors are seeking a grand jury indictment. If they secure enough evidence, an arrest warrant could be issued at any time. D4VD’s current whereabouts are unknown, but authorities are monitoring his family’s property in Texas and his digital footprints. The case may become one of the first major criminal investigations to rely heavily on Tesla telemetry and social media metadata.