Investigators Now Believe Singer D4vd Had Help in Dismembering and Disposing of 15-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Body — A Rising Star Pulled Into One of California’s Most Disturbing Cases
Rising music star David Anthony Burke, known to millions as D4vd, built a fanbase through emotional alt-pop anthems that captured heartbreak and young love in ways only a new-generation artist could. But in the late months of 2025, his world shifted from sold-out dreams and digital stardom to a spotlight of an entirely different, darker kind. The discovery of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the singer jolted California law enforcement, music-industry executives, and fans around the world. What began as a missing-person alert involving a vulnerable teenager spiraled into one of the most unsettling investigations in recent memory, with the young performer now under intense scrutiny as detectives work to piece together a case that remains raw, complex, and profoundly tragic.
Authorities say the car had been sitting on a residential street in the Hollywood Hills for weeks, ticketed repeatedly and eventually towed to an impound lot after neighbors complained of a foul odor drifting down the block. Only during a routine tow-yard search did workers discover what no one imagined: the remains of a teenage girl placed inside a plastic-wrapped bundle tucked into the frunk of the luxury vehicle. Identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the discovery triggered a homicide investigation that quickly turned toward one of the last people connected to the vehicle — its registered owner, the 20-year-old musician whose songs regularly gather millions of streams.
Law-enforcement officials have not yet disclosed Celeste’s exact cause of death. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed the manner of death as deferred, leaving investigators to rely heavily on forensic testing, digital evidence, and witness interviews. But what has emerged so far from police sources paints a chilling picture. One source speaking to People magazine said investigators believe the singer “had help dismembering and disposing of the body,” suggesting that the condition of the remains indicates the involvement of more than one person. Although the LAPD has not publicly confirmed this, multiple outlets report the same belief within the investigative team.
Even before the public learned his name was tied to the case, Burke’s life had shown signs of strain behind the scenes. Neighbors near his Hollywood Hills rental reported a sudden police presence weeks earlier, with officers executing a search warrant on a home he had recently leased. The landlord reportedly terminated his residency shortly afterward. In the time since, police say the artist has become less cooperative, despite early public statements from his team insisting he was assisting investigators. That tension between public image and investigative reality has become a defining thread in the story, fueling both speculation and concern among industry figures who once heralded him as one of alternative pop’s brightest new voices.
For Celeste’s family, the story is far more personal, wrapped in grief that few headlines can capture. Living in Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, they had reported her missing multiple times in 2024. Relatives described her as a creative, loving young girl who struggled at times but remained deeply loved. Her disappearance, and the painful months without answers, left her family clinging to hope that she might return home safely. When detectives confirmed her identity after the Tesla discovery, that hope collapsed into heartbreak that rippled through her community. A GoFundMe page created in her memory described her as a “beloved daughter, sister, cousin and friend” whose life was cut short in a way too devastating to comprehend.
Investigators have released limited details about how or when the teen and the artist may have crossed paths. Social-media chatter intensified when fans noticed similarities in tattoos, online exchanges, and even an unreleased song title referencing the name “Celeste,” but law enforcement has not validated those theories, and officials warn that much of what circulates online blends fact with speculation. What remains clear is only this: Celeste’s final days, and the events that led to her body being discovered in a musician’s abandoned vehicle, form the center of an investigation that is both forensic and deeply human.
Burke’s rise in music makes the investigation even more jolting. Best known for hits like “Here With Me” and “Romantic Homicide,” the Houston-born singer-songwriter climbed rapidly from Roblox-produced tracks to Interscope signing and international touring. His music, a blend of moody alt-pop and indie-leaning vocals, resonated particularly with teenage listeners navigating first heartbreaks and late-night emotions. His professional momentum had been building steadily through 2024 and 2025 — charting releases, festival bookings, and collaborations that signaled a major new phase in his career. Now, those plans are frozen. His deluxe album edition was shelved, promotional campaigns paused, tour dates canceled, and internal brand partnerships suspended while the investigation unfolds.
Public reaction to the case has been a storm of grief, anger, confusion, and disbelief. Many fans are struggling to reconcile the soft-spoken, introspective artist they supported with the chilling reality of a teenager found dead in his vehicle. Others urge caution, reminding the public that no charges have been filed, and that investigations — especially those involving minors — often require time, patience, and forensic precision. Yet the sheer severity of the case, combined with the reported condition of the remains, has magnified public pressure on authorities to deliver clarity.
Digital forensics now play a major role. Police are examining communication logs, location pings, home-security footage, surveillance from streets where the Tesla was parked, and any electronic records from the Hollywood Hills home. Car-data logs from Tesla’s onboard systems may also be key, offering timestamps that could narrow the window of when Celeste entered — and never left — the vehicle. Meanwhile, forensic testing continues on evidence retrieved from the car and the residence. Detectives with the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division emphasize the complexity of the case and caution that no arrests should be expected until substantial, verifiable evidence is established.
For many families who have lost loved ones to violence, cases like Celeste’s resonate painfully. They raise uncomfortable questions about how vulnerable teenagers slip through social cracks, how missing-child cases sometimes fade from the spotlight too quickly, and how predators — if one is ultimately identified — are able to access minors. In communities across Southern California, parents are now grappling with conversations about safety, trust, and the difficult truth that even seemingly distant public figures can become intertwined with real lives in unexpected ways.
For Burke, the road ahead is uncertain. Even without charges, the shadow cast by this investigation has altered the trajectory of his career. Major labels tend to distance themselves from artists tied to criminal investigations involving minors. Streaming platforms may later face decisions about whether to continue featuring his work, especially as public pressure intensifies. Industry insiders note that, while the presumption of innocence is fundamental, brand risk is also a deciding factor for corporations — and this case carries potentially irreversible repercussions.
But behind the headlines, the tragedy remains centered on Celeste — a teenager who did not deserve the fate she encountered. Her story has captured national attention not because of celebrity involvement, but because of what it reflects: a profound loss, an unanswered series of questions, and a family enduring unthinkable grief. As investigators continue their work, the hope is that the truth — in all its detail, complexity, and consequence — emerges fully.
The coming weeks will likely determine the direction of this case. Autopsy results, witness statements, forensic correlations, and digital patterns may eventually produce a clearer narrative, one capable of holding up in court. Until then, the mystery surrounding Celeste’s final hours and Burke’s potential role remains an open chapter, suspended between sorrow and the search for justice.
For now, all eyes remain on the investigation. Detectives continue their work. Celeste’s family continues their mourning. And a young singer who once filled arenas with emotional ballads now waits in legal limbo, the weight of a tragedy pressing against every unanswered question. Justice — slow, meticulous, and unflinching — will determine what comes next, and whether accountability will match the magnitude of a young life lost too soon.
