R&B Singer D4vd Named Primary Suspect in Dismemberment Death of 15-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez

The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 15-year-old girl from Lake Elsinore, California, was found decomposing in the trunk of a Tesla registered to rising R&B star David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, on September 8, 2025, abandoned on a quiet Hollywood street. Now, nearly two months later, the Los Angeles Police Department has identified Burke as the primary suspect in what investigators are treating as a homicide — a case that has sent shockwaves through the music industry and left a community in mourning. The discovery, made after the car sat untouched in an impound lot for two days, revealed signs of dismemberment. The brutality of the crime, coupled with Burke’s sudden silence and canceled tour dates, has turned a promising musical career into a grim mystery.

The Discovery That Shook Hollywood

The Tesla, a sleek electric vehicle with a California license plate, was reported abandoned on September 6, 2025, near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. It wasn’t until two days later, when impound staff conducted a routine inventory, that they found the body. The car’s owner, David Anthony Burke, had not filed any reports about the vehicle’s absence. Authorities say the body showed clear signs of postmortem dismemberment — a process investigators believe required more than one person. The victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, had been reported missing since late 2024. Her family had repeatedly contacted local authorities in Riverside County, but no leads had emerged — until the Tesla’s discovery.

"This isn’t just a missing person case anymore," said one LAPD investigator speaking off the record. "The way she was disposed of… this was deliberate. Calculated. And it wasn’t done alone."

D4vd’s Silence and the Canceled Tour

At 20 years old, David Anthony Burke — who performs under the stylized name D4vd — had been on the cusp of mainstream breakthrough. His debut album, Romantic Homicide, released in July 2025, had already garnered over 120 million streams across platforms. The deluxe edition, slated for September 19, 2025, was being promoted with billboards in New York, London, and Tokyo. But when the body was found, all promotional activity stopped. By mid-November, his European tour, scheduled to begin in December, was officially canceled. His label, Interscope Records, issued a terse statement: "We are aware of the investigation and are cooperating fully."

According to multiple sources, Burke has not spoken to investigators. His lawyer, manager, and family have all declined to comment. TMZ reported that in April 2025, Burke made a mysterious solo trip to a remote stretch of Santa Barbara County, where he was seen parked overnight near an isolated trailhead — a location that now draws intense scrutiny. Authorities are examining whether that trip was connected to the disposal of evidence.

Multiple People Involved? The Investigation Expands

While Burke is the primary focus, investigators have confirmed they’ve interviewed at least five other individuals connected to the case. One person, a 19-year-old acquaintance of Burke’s from the Los Angeles music scene, was detained for questioning on November 12, 2025, though no charges have been filed. Another, a female assistant who worked briefly on Burke’s tour, reportedly provided investigators with text messages that suggested awareness of "a problem" in early September.

"The timeline doesn’t add up if it was just him," said a source familiar with the case. "The dismemberment required tools, space, time — and someone to help move the vehicle after. We’re looking at a network."

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the official cause or manner of death. That determination, expected within days, will be the critical trigger for any arrest or indictment. Without it, prosecutors say they can’t move forward. "We’re not even at the charging stage," said a spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office. "We need the autopsy. Then we’ll know if this is murder, manslaughter, or something else."

A Life Cut Short: Who Was Celeste Rivas Hernandez?

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a sophomore at Lake Elsinore High School. Friends described her as quiet but kind — a fan of indie pop and poetry. She had recently started working part-time at a local bookstore. Her family, who still live in the same modest home on Sycamore Avenue, have not spoken publicly. A small memorial of candles and stuffed animals sits outside the school’s main gate, with a handwritten sign: "We miss you, Celeste. Justice for you."

Her disappearance in 2024 went largely unnoticed outside her community — a tragic reality for many young, non-celebrity victims. But now, with the spotlight on D4vd, her name is everywhere. Advocates are urging the public not to reduce her to a footnote in a celebrity scandal. "She was more than a body in a trunk," said Maria Lopez, a youth advocate with the Riverside County Missing Persons Coalition. "She was a daughter. A sister. A girl who loved sunsets and bad karaoke."

What Happens Next?

The next 72 hours could change everything. If the medical examiner confirms homicide, prosecutors will have the evidence needed to seek an arrest warrant. Burke could be charged with murder, conspiracy, or even desecration of a corpse — charges that carry life sentences in California. Meanwhile, his music continues to stream — a haunting irony. "Romantic Homicide," his breakout single, now has over 200 million plays. Some fans have begun deleting his songs. Others still defend him.

"I don’t know what happened," said one fan on Reddit. "But I hope he’s innocent. I’ve cried listening to his music."

But for investigators, the music doesn’t matter. The evidence does. And right now, the Tesla — still sitting in evidence storage — is the most important witness in the case.