D4vd at center of Hollywood death mystery as teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez is found in his Tesla

A homicide investigation in Hollywood Hills intensified this week after the decomposed remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenager from Lake Elsinore, were discovered inside a dented 2023 Tesla Model Y registered to David Anthony Burke, the viral rapper known as D4vd. Police described Celeste’s death as the subject of an ongoing homicide inquiry, with no suspects publicly identified and Burke not named as a suspect or person of interest. The discovery has triggered a wave of online speculation and a broader conversation about the connections between young fans and rapidly rising music stars.

Celeste, described by family and friends as studious and intelligent, disappeared from her suburban home in May 2024 at age 13. Her family says she had a history of brief disappearances but had not been heard from since that May. Her brother, Matthew Rivas, has publicly said Celeste had planned to spend time with Burke, and that Burke would regularly pick her up in the same Tesla in which her body would later be found. Burke, whose songs have been streamed billions of times on streaming platforms, rose to fame on TikTok by producing and performing music tied to video-game soundtracks, and he has since appeared on national television and performed at major festivals.

The vehicle at the heart of the case—the dented black Model Y—was impounded on September 5 after tow-yard workers reported a foul odor emanating from the car while it sat near a four-bedroom Hollywood Hills mansion where Burke had been living. Celeste’s body was described by officials as severely decomposed, and authorities have not publicly disclosed the cause of death. The remains were found inside the car, which police said Celeste had inhabited for an extended period before discovery. The car’s registration to Burke links the case to the rapper’s current tour schedule, which has now been suspended indefinitely as investigators pursue leads across multiple jurisdictions.

Investigators have stressed that the inquiry remains in its early stages in terms of establishing a timeline between Celeste’s disappearance and the discovery of her remains. Autopsy results have not yet been released, and officials have said they are examining a range of possibilities as they work to reconstruct Celeste’s movements in the 16 months between her disappearance and the grisly find. The scope of the investigation has widened to include an examination of any potential relationship dynamics between Celeste and Burke, who has publicly cooperated with authorities but has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Burke, who is widely known by his stage name D4vd, has faced professional repercussions in the wake of the case. His management and a number of brand partnerships have paused or ended, including campaigns with footwear maker Crocs and clothing retailer Hollister. Burke’s team has described him as fully cooperating with investigators, and his legal counsel has taken a high-profile stance through the press in recent days. Burke, who has a substantial social-media following, has also encountered questions about how his rising fame intersects with the safety and privacy of young fans who might be drawn to his work.

The investigation has drawn in a wide array of commentary from legal and security experts. Neama Rahmani, a former Department of Justice prosecutor, called the case “staggering” and noted that the absence of arrests in a scenario involving a body found in a car is unusual, though he cautioned that investigators face complex challenges when reconstructing long timelines and possible interwoven motives. Rahmani emphasized that while multiple explanations are possible, the presence of a body within a vehicle is inherently alarming and demands thorough, transparent inquiry. Some neighbors described Celeste and Burke as private individuals who kept to themselves, while others recalled seeing them together in recent months.

Authorities have also indicated that investigators are pursuing a range of leads and have conducted searches at the Hollywood Hills residence Burke was renting. Electronic devices were seized as part of the inquiry, though officials have not disclosed what was recovered. The property had formerly been occupied by Halle Berry, and the owner noted that Burke’s lease had recently been terminated as the investigation moved forward.

The case has also fueled intense online speculation about Celeste’s age and identity, with some reporting that she may have used false identification or presented herself as older than her years. Family members have publicly claimed that Celeste had been dating someone named David, a detail that has fed rumors and led to extensive online discussion about the relationship dynamics involved. Investigators have said they are “following up on several leads,” but the pace of progress has drawn criticism from legal observers who caution that homicide investigations can be lengthy and complex, particularly when a missing person case spans more than a year.

The broader cultural conversation surrounding the case touches on the speed with which social media can amplify rumors and how fans of celebrity artists might interpret or misconstrue biographical details embedded in an artist’s work. Some fans have parsed Burke’s lyrics and music videos for clues, while others have viewed the imagery associated with his stage persona as part of a broader, potentially misguided attempt to glean information about Celeste’s fate. Authorities have cautioned against drawing conclusions from artistic content or social-media speculation and have urged the public to await official findings.

With the autopsy pending and the investigation continuing, questions remain about Celeste’s movements after May 2024 and the precise sequence of events leading up to her death. Investigators have not disclosed whether any surveillance video from the Tesla’s own systems or from the home where Burke lived has yielded additional clues. The case thus remains a high-profile, evolving story at the intersection of entertainment culture and criminal investigation, with many outstanding questions and a public appetite for answers that only a formal, thorough inquiry can provide.