Wikimedia Commons / CYRIL ZINGARO / KeystoneSinger-songwriter d4vd is at the center of a police investigation after human remains were discovered in a car registered to him in Los Angeles. Authorities have now identified the victim as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, a girl who had been missing for more than a year.
The Tesla, registered to David Anthony Burke, known as d4vd, was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills and later impounded.
On September 8, staff at the lot reported a foul odor, leading to the discovery of a body inside a bag in the vehicle’s front trunk. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed on September 17 that the remains belonged to Rivas, who was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California, in April 2024.
Investigators said the body had been inside the vehicle for an extended period before it was discovered. The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined, but the case is being treated as a homicide investigation.
Current status
As of September 19, the police have not named any suspects, and it remains unclear how or when the body was placed in the car. Authorities have also not established any confirmed link between the teenager and the singer. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the investigation, and d4vd’s representatives have said he is cooperating fully with law enforcement.
Only one show on d4vd’s current tour was initially canceled, with other scheduled dates still planned to go ahead. However, on September 19, TMZ reported that the tour had been fully canceled.
Social media speculation is rife about d4vd’s potential involvement, especially after TMZ highlighted that he has a matching ‘Shhh’ tattoo as the victim.
A leaked d4vd song from 2023 titled “Celeste” has also made the rounds on X and Reddit. Additionally, his 2022 track “Romantic Homicide” entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.
Related
This remains an active investigation, with authorities urging the public to come forward with any information related to the case.
Who is d4vd?
d4vd, 20, rose to prominence on TikTok and streaming platforms with viral tracks before releasing his debut album Withered in 2025, and beginning an international tour.
He first broke through in 2022 when his self-recorded track Romantic Homicide went viral on TikTok, climbing the Billboard Hot 100.
Much of his early music was recorded in his sister’s closet using an iPhone, a lo-fi approach that became part of his story, building a large fanbase across social media and streaming platforms.
He was also featured in the popular game Fortnite, with his own emote, and is signed as a content creator and musician with the esports and lifestyle organization 100 Thieves.
He is also a close friend of popular Twitch star Jasontheween, who publicly defended the singer on stream.
“He didn’t do it,” Jason said. “He literally performed the next day. If he was a suspect the police would have been after him.”
D4vd has also been dropped by two brands he was working with, Crocs and Hollister.