LOS ANGELES – American singer David Anthony Burke, professionally known as D4vd, has been officially identified as a suspect in the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed body was discovered in the trunk of his Tesla in September 2025. Law enforcement sources, speaking to multiple US media outlets on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, confirmed the development in what is now being treated as a homicide investigation.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) believes Rivas died in the spring of 2025 and that Burke may have had assistance in dismembering and disposing of her body. An LAPD source also stated that the 20-year-old musician has not been cooperative with the investigation. To date, no arrests have been made.

A Grim Discovery

The case began on Friday, September 8, 2025 (EAT), when workers at a Hollywood tow yard reported a strong odor coming from a black Tesla that had been impounded. The vehicle, registered to Burke, had been ticketed on September 3 for overstaying a 72-hour parking limit in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood where it had reportedly been left for over a month. Inside the front trunk, police found the severely decomposed remains of a young female, later identified as Celeste Rivas. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office stated she appeared to have been deceased for "an extended period of time."

Rivas, who was 14 at the time, was first reported missing from her home in Lake Elsinore, California—approximately 100 kilometers from Los Angeles—on April 5, 2024. Her family had previously reported her missing in February 2024 before she returned home. Rivas's brother informed investigators that the family was aware she knew the singer and was supposedly on her way to see a movie with him before she disappeared for the last time. Her mother also told reporters her daughter was dating someone named "David."

Investigation and Public Scrutiny

The cause of death has not yet been officially determined by the medical examiner, with the case status listed as "deferred" pending toxicology results. However, the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division is investigating the death as a homicide. On September 18, 2025, detectives executed a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills residence where Burke had been staying, seizing items including a computer.

Following the discovery of Rivas's body, Burke, who was on a world tour, canceled his remaining US and international tour dates. He has retained high-profile criminal defense attorney Blair Berk. While a representative for the singer had previously stated he was cooperating with authorities, recent police sources contradict this claim. The case has drawn significant public attention and online speculation, fueled by reports of the victim and singer having matching tattoos and Burke's stage name, D4vd, being pronounced "David."

Global Context and Lack of Local Ties

There is no information suggesting any connection between David Anthony Burke, Celeste Rivas, or the ongoing investigation to Kenya or the East African region. The case is centered entirely within Los Angeles, California. However, the story has garnered international attention, raising broader questions about the responsibilities of public figures and the safety of young people who interact with them. For a Kenyan audience, it serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can exist in relationships, particularly those involving significant age and power imbalances, a theme that transcends geographical boundaries.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together a definitive timeline of events leading to Rivas's death. A private investigator hired by the owner of the property Burke was renting provided police with surveillance footage showing the Tesla being moved to its final parking spot on July 29, 2025, the same day Burke reportedly left for his tour. The identity of the person driving the vehicle in the footage has not been publicly released. The LAPD has not commented on this specific piece of evidence. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.