Los Angeles police sources told NBC4 Investigates that singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, has been identified as a suspect after the decomposed body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas was discovered in the front trunk of a black Tesla registered to him on 8 September. Rivas was first reported missing from Lake Elsinore in April 2024 when she was 13, and investigators now treat her death as a homicide. Authorities say the vehicle had been ticketed in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood and later impounded; the medical examiner reported the victim “appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found.” Police sources also told reporters that the singer has not cooperated with the investigation.
Key Takeaways
- The body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas was found on 8 September in the front trunk of a black Tesla registered to David Anthony Burke (stage name D4vd).
- Rivas was first reported missing from Lake Elsinore in April 2024 at age 13; investigators say she likely died months before the discovery.
- Los Angeles police consider the death a homicide; the cause of death has not yet been publicly released by the medical examiner.
- Sources told NBC4 Investigates that D4vd is a suspect and that investigators allege possible involvement in dismemberment and disposal.
- The Tesla was ticketed in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood for overstaying a three-day limit 11 days before the body was found and was later towed to an impound yard.
- Workers at the tow yard reported a strong stench coming from the vehicle, prompting the discovery.
- The singer, signed to Darkroom and Interscope and known for songs including “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me,” cancelled tour dates after the discovery.
Background
Celeste Rivas was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, roughly 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles, in April 2024; media reports indicate she was 13 at the time of that missing-person report. Over the following months, family accounts and social-media posts circulated images linking Rivas with the singer D4vd. Investigators say Rivas had contacted home in May 2024, but she was not heard from again after that call, according to local reporting.
D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, rose to prominence as a singer-songwriter from New York and is signed to Darkroom and Interscope. In September he and his manager were reported to be staying at a Hollywood Hills residence; the landlord told reporters police later executed a search of that property. The Tesla in which the body was found had been parked in the Hollywood Hills area for weeks, residents told local outlets.
Main Event
On 8 September, workers at a Hollywood tow facility reported a strong, persistent odor coming from a black Tesla that had been impounded; employees inspecting the vehicle discovered a decomposed body in the front trunk area. The car was registered to D4vd, and records show it had been ticketed in the Hollywood Hills for exceeding a three-day parking limit 11 days before the discovery. The vehicle was subsequently taken into evidence as the LAPD continued initial inquiries.
Law-enforcement sources speaking to NBC4 Investigates said investigators have identified D4vd as a suspect in the case and are examining whether he played a role in dismembering and disposing of the body. Those sources also told reporters that the singer has not cooperated with investigators. The Los Angeles Police Department has not issued a public arrest or charging statement at the time of reporting.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner released a brief statement noting that Rivas “appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found,” but it did not publish a definitive cause of death pending further testing. The LAPD has characterized the investigation as a homicide inquiry while forensic work and follow-up interviews continue.
Analysis & Implications
If charges are filed, the case will present several investigative challenges: establishing time and cause of death after an extended period of decomposition; linking physical evidence from the vehicle to a suspect; and reconciling witness accounts about the victim’s last contacts. Forensic pathology and DNA testing will be critical to determine whether the body shows trauma consistent with homicide and to identify any secondary handling of remains.
The involvement of a public figure complicates investigative and legal dynamics. High-profile suspects attract intense media attention, which can affect witness cooperation and juror pools; prosecutors must balance transparency with preserving the integrity of the probe. Civil and criminal counsel may be retained early, and managing public statements will be an active concern for investigators and the victim’s family alike.
There are broader social implications: this case highlights gaps in how missing-teen reports are managed across jurisdictions and how long-term missing-person cases are re-evaluated when new evidence emerges. If allegations about disposal are substantiated, the case could prompt renewed scrutiny of impound-yard procedures and how reports from tow-yard workers are triaged by police.
Comparison & Data
| Key Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2024 | Rivas first reported missing from Lake Elsinore (reported age 13) |
| May 2024 | Rivas reportedly called home; no further confirmed contact |
| 8 September | Decomposed body of Celeste Rivas found in Tesla’s front trunk |
| ~Late August/Early Sept | Tesla ticketed in Hollywood Hills for overstaying three-day limit (11 days before discovery) |
The timeline above is reconstructed from public reporting and law-enforcement statements. Investigators have suggested the victim may have died months earlier than the discovery date; determining a precise postmortem interval will depend on forensic analysis and environmental factors affecting decomposition.
Reactions & Quotes
“She appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found.”
Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner (statement)
The medical examiner’s brief statement was released to describe the state of the remains and does not yet ascribe a cause of death. Officials say detailed findings will follow as laboratory testing is completed.
“He has not been cooperative in the investigation,”
Unnamed LAPD source to NBC4 Investigates
That assessment from a police source was reported to NBC4 Investigates; the LAPD has not publicly detailed the scope of its requests or interviews with the singer. Law-enforcement sources caution that cooperation can change as formal subpoenas or warrants are issued.
“The family knew she had contact with the singer and she was reportedly on her way to see a movie with him,”
Family member (reported to NBC Los Angeles)
Family accounts given to local reporters describe prior acquaintance between Rivas and D4vd. Investigators will seek to corroborate timelines and communications through phone records and surveillance footage.
Unconfirmed
- Allegations that D4vd helped dismember and dispose of the body are reported by law-enforcement sources but have not been publicly substantiated with charging documents.
- The precise cause and time of death remain pending formal release by the medical examiner after forensic testing.
- Details about the nature of any communications between Rivas and D4vd prior to her disappearance are reported by family and media but have not been independently verified by investigators in a public filing.
Bottom Line
Law-enforcement sources have named singer D4vd as a suspect after the discovery of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas in a Tesla registered to him; investigators currently treat the case as a homicide. Forensic results from the medical examiner and evidence gathered from the vehicle and residence searches will be decisive in determining charges and establishing a timeline.
At this stage the public record contains multiple reported claims and several unresolved forensic questions. Readers should expect further announcements from the LAPD and the medical examiner as tests conclude and any formal charging decisions are made.
Sources
- The Guardian (international news outlet reporting on the case)
- NBC4 Investigates (local TV investigative reporting cited for police-source details)
- NBC Los Angeles (local news reporting family statements)
- ABC7 Los Angeles (local news outlet cited for timeline elements)
- SFGate (regional news reporting on searches and property statements)
- Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner (official forensic authority)
- Los Angeles Police Department (law-enforcement agency)