Los Angeles: The discovery of a teenage girl’s decomposed body inside an abandoned Tesla linked to rising American singer-songwriter D4vd has triggered a swirl of unanswered questions, cancelled concerts and rampant online speculation.

The victim, identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, had been missing since April 2024. Her remains were found in early September at a Los Angeles tow yard inside a bag in the trunk of a Tesla reportedly registered to the musician, whose real name is David Anthony Burke. Authorities say her death is being investigated as a homicide, though no suspects have been named and the singer has not been charged.

The case has since collided with Burke’s artistic output, past comments, and fan speculation, spawning conspiracy theories that blur the line between his dark, moody music and the grim reality of a missing child’s fate.

What really happened?

On September 8, staff at Hollywood Tow reported a foul smell coming from a black Tesla impounded days earlier after being abandoned in the Hollywood Hills. Inside the trunk, detectives found a bag containing human remains.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed the body as that of Celeste Rivas, who was last seen in Lake Elsinore, California, in April 2024. The report noted that Rivas was dressed in a tube top and black leggings at the time, with a “Shhh…” tattoo etched on her right index finger. She was also wearing a stud earring and a yellow chain bracelet.

Officials described the remains as “severely decomposed” and said she appeared to have been dead for “an extended period of time.”

Celeste’s cause of death has not yet been made public. Police are treating the case as a homicide. A representative told NBC Los Angeles that D4vd has been cooperating with authorities since the discovery.

Link between Celeste and D4vd

The car was registered to Burke, though police have not confirmed whether he was the owner or why it had been impounded. Investigators later searched a Hollywood Hills residence where he had been staying and seized electronic devices.

Celeste’s family confirmed that she had a boyfriend named David, which has fuelled speculation online about a possible connection to the singer. Theories circulating on social platforms suggest she may have spent time with him after running away from home.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said Celeste Rivas was initially reported missing on February 14, 2024, at the age of 13. Residents in Lake Elsinore later remembered spotting flyers about her disappearance posted around their otherwise quiet neighbourhood.

Adding to the mystery, Celeste’s mother previously received a phone call telling her, “Don’t look for your daughter, she’s fine.” The caller did not reach out again, US Sun reported.

Rumours of child’s remains near D4vd’s home spark online frenzy

Social media has been flooded with unverified claims that the remains of an infant were discovered near singer D4vd’s Hollywood Hills residence. A widely shared post asserted, "Infant remains were DISCOVERED near D4vd's residence; they confirmed Celeste was PREGNANT. Truth is slowly coming to light as they continue to investigate."

Some posts have suggested that Celeste Rivas was pregnant at the time of her death and that the alleged discovery confirmed this. The rumours have circulated widely across X, and TikTok, prompting heated discussions among users.

Authorities have not confirmed any such discovery, and no law enforcement agency has released information supporting these claims. At this stage, the reports remain unverified online speculation.

Music video

Shortly after the body’s discovery, fans resurfaced D4vd’s music video ‘One More Dance’, released in February 2025. The video features Burke dragging what appears to be a dead body while wearing a blood-stained shirt, later stuffing it into a car trunk before burying it.

Although Uproxx noted that the imagery depicted Burke handling his own body as part of a conceptual narrative, the timing of the video’s release and the investigation has fuelled online conspiracy theories.

Old interview surfaces

Another twist came when a past interview clip of Burke resurfaced. In the segment, he described creating a fictional alter ego who committed murders that his “detective self” would later solve.

The statement, originally shared months earlier, has now been interpreted in light of the ongoing case. While framed as a storytelling device, it has intensified scrutiny of his lyrics and imagery, including songs like ‘Romantic Homicide’ that dwell on themes of death and loss.

Timeline of events

  • February 14, 2024: Rivas was first reported missing in Riverside County, California. She was later located, though details were not disclosed.
  • April 5, 2024: She was reported missing again and was not found.
  • Late August–September 2025: Burke embarked on his Withered U.S. tour. On September 7, he promoted a deluxe edition of the album on Instagram, one day before the Tesla was searched.
  • Early September 2025: A Tesla with Texas plates tied to Burke was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills.
  • September 8, 2025: Workers at Hollywood Tow discovered the remains in the trunk.
  • September 17, 2025: Detectives executed a search warrant at Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence, seizing electronics.
  • Following days: Several of Burke’s shows in the U.S. and Europe were cancelled or removed from ticketing platforms. Brands including Crocs and Hollister suspended campaigns featuring him.

The aftermath

Despite widespread rumours, officials have not implicated Burke in Celeste’s death. His representatives have declined to comment, while venues and promoters have quietly pulled him from scheduled appearances.

The LAPD continues to investigate the teenager’s disappearance and death, piecing together her final movements. Fans, meanwhile, remain deeply divided, some defending the singer, others pointing to unsettling overlaps between his art and the unfolding case.

(WIth inputs from AP)