Singer D4vd — born David Anthony Burke — is now officially considered a suspect in the disturbing death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found inside a car registered to him, according to a Los Angeles Police Department source with direct knowledge of the case.
As of now, Burke has not been charged with any crime.
The LAPD source told NBC Los Angeles that Burke has not been cooperative with investigators. The source also said that the teen likely died in the spring and that investigators believe Burke “most likely had help dismembering and disposing of the body.” None of that, however, has yet been established in court or confirmed publicly by authorities beyond unnamed sources.
Burke’s legal team did not immediately reply to requests for comment this week. Back in September, a spokesperson for the singer insisted he was “fully cooperating with authorities.” That claim now appears to contradict what investigators are saying privately.
The heartbreaking discovery came on September 8, when Celeste’s remains were found inside the trunk of a Tesla at a Los Angeles impound lot. According to police, the vehicle had been sitting abandoned for several weeks before it was towed — a detail that suggests Celeste “may have been deceased for several weeks before the discovery of her body,” the LAPD said in a September 29 update.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez had been missing for over a year. She was last seen on April 5, 2024, in Lake Elsinore, California, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Her disappearance devastated her family, who spent months desperately searching for answers before receiving the tragic confirmation.
As of Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner had not yet determined an official cause or manner of death, both listed as “deferred,” meaning further investigation and analysis are still needed. Whether Celeste’s death was a homicide or whether criminal activity beyond concealing her body occurred remains unanswered.
When the remains were first discovered, LAPD stressed that because the manner of death had not been determined, “it remains unclear whether there is any criminal culpability beyond the concealment of her body.”
In a statement released September 29, the department emphasized that the Robbery-Homicide Division “is thoroughly examining every aspect of this case to uncover the truth and seek justice for Celeste Rivas Hernandez and her family.”
For now, investigators continue piecing together what happened between Celeste’s disappearance and the day her remains were found.
Burke, best known for viral tracks that skyrocketed him to internet fame, has not spoken publicly about the case since the original discovery in September. Social media users have continued to speculate heavily, though authorities have not released additional details that confirm or deny the rumors spreading online.
As the investigation unfolds, one thing remains constant: Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s family is still waiting for closure — and answers.
