Singer Faces Murder Investigation After Teenager Found in Car Boot
Rising music star D4vd is now officially being investigated as a suspect in the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose decomposing body was discovered in the boot of his abandoned vehicle earlier this year. The 20-year-old performer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, finds himself at the centre of a potential homicide case that has shocked the music industry.
The grim discovery unfolded on September 8 when Los Angeles police responded to reports of a foul odour coming from a vehicle at an impound lot. The car had been moved there two days earlier after being found abandoned in the Hollywood Hills area. Upon investigation, authorities made the disturbing find of human remains in the vehicle's boot.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The body was later identified as Celeste Rivas, a teenager whose family had reported her missing last year. According to police sources, Rivas had run away from her home in Lake Elsinore, California, in April last year. Her mother revealed to media outlets that the teenager disappeared aged 13 after becoming involved with someone named 'David'.
In a troubling development, TMZ reported that authorities are now investigating D4vd as a potential suspect in the case. The publication shared information from sources claiming that police investigations revealed the singer took a trip in the middle of the night to a remote area of Santa Barbara County during spring 2025 and remained there for several hours.
The case is currently being treated as a possible homicide, though officials are still waiting for an official cause of death from the medical examiner. No official paperwork has yet identified D4vd as a suspect.
Career Consequences and Police Investigations
The fallout from the discovery has been swift for the young artist's career. In the weeks following the shocking revelation, D4vd was dropped from festival line-ups and shows on his world tour were cancelled. His debut album 'Withered' was released in April, just months before the investigation became public.
Despite initial statements suggesting the singer was cooperating with authorities, an LAPD insider told NBC4 that police believe he has not been cooperative during the investigation. The same source claimed that authorities believe Rivas likely died in the spring and that D4vd 'likely had help in dismembering and disposing of the body'.
Last month, the medical examiner's office released a statement indicating that Rivas 'appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found'.
Evidence Gathering and Strange Discoveries
Following the discovery of Rivas' body, police executed a search warrant at D4vd's Hollywood Hills home. A spokesperson confirmed that 'several items of evidence' were recovered during the search.
Private investigator Steve Fischer, who spoke with the Daily Mail, revealed that strange items with no clear domestic purpose were found inside the property. 'There were multiple of these items that could all be used together... that you'd never need in a Hollywood Hills home,' Fischer stated. 'You'd be more likely to find them on a farm.'
D4vd first rose to prominence in 2022 when his songs 'Here with Me' and 'Romantic Homicide' went viral on TikTok, catapulting him to international recognition. The ongoing investigation continues to develop as authorities await crucial forensic evidence that could determine the direction of the case.
