David Anthony Burke, known professionally as d4vd, is a 20-year-old American R&B artist. His viral singles “Here with Me” and “Romanic Homicide,” released in 2022, gained widespread popularity on Tiktok and successfully kicked off his musical debut. However, recently, his career has been overshadowed by tragedy. On Sept. 8, in Los Angeles, the body of 15 year-old Celeste Rivas Hernández was discovered in a car that was registered under Burke’s name. The case has become a “hot topic” across the country and ignited many controversial discussions on social media.
The vehicle—a Tesla—had been left parked in the Hollywood Hills for several weeks before being towed due to multiple parking violations and neighborhood complaints about a foul odor. After being impounded, police searched the car and discovered Rivas’s remains wrapped in a plastic bag inside the front trunk. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the body and ruled the manner of death a homicide but deferred the cause pending further toxicology and forensic analysis.
Police confirmed that the body was deliberately placed in the vehicle but have not identified any suspects. Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide Division served a search warrant at a residence linked to Burke and collected several of his electronic devices. Authorities have stated that, without a confirmed cause of death, they cannot determine if any act of crime beyond concealment has occurred, and therefore, no arrests have been made.
Rivas was a teenage girl from Lake Elsinore, California, who had been reported as missing several times in 2024, the first time being at age 13 in April. The relationship between Burke and Rivas has drawn great attention. Those close to Burke believed Rivas was 19 and a student at the University of Southern California, but authorities confirmed she was underage and possessed multiple fake IDs. His friends described her as shy and quiet, often following Burke’s lead in everything. Her sudden death has shocked her family and many of Burke’s fans on social media. Speculation continues to spark about why Burke hasn’t been arrested yet, despite the evidence being held against him.
Burke has canceled his remaining tours and ended his lease in Los Angeles; however, he has not yet spoken up about the situation. Promotional campaigns featuring the artist have been paused or pulled from major brands and his record label has delayed upcoming releases as the investigation remains open.