Update to Body found in Car Registered to Singer D4vd

Update: Body in d4vd’s Car Identified as Missing 15-Year-Old 

Tragedy deepened in the story surrounding alternative-R&B singer D4vd who's real name David Anthony Burke this week. Authorities have confirmed that the body found inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the artist has been identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez , a girl reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California, in April 2024. 

Police are still investigating how the remains of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were discovered earlier this month in the back of a car registered to artist D4vd in the Hollywood Hills, just one day after her birthday. As the case unfolds, D4vd’s breakout single, Romantic Homicide, reached a new peak at No. 8 on Spotify’s daily chart Monday, which is its highest position since its release in September of 2022 and after the discovery of Hernandez's body in the Tesla registered to D4vd.

His video for One More Dance, where he's putting a body into the trunk of a car was released in February of 2025, has already surpassed 3.9 million views on YouTube. Meanwhile, a photograph circulating online appears to show D4vd with Hernandez, though authorities have not confirmed whether the young woman pictured is in fact her.

D4vd has since canceled the remainder of his Withered World Tour amid the homicide investigation, though Los Angeles police have not named him as a suspect. According to reports from TMZ and the Union Bulletin, the singer recorded an unreleased track titled “Celeste,” where he mentions the name twice. The demo, leaked online in December of 2023, resurfaced in September 2025 following the discovery of Hernandez’s body.

The lyrics include the lines:
“Oh, Celeste, the girl with my name tattooed on her chest...”
“Oh, Celeste, afraid you’ll only love me when undressed...”

What Authorities Have Confirmed

• The remains were discovered on September 8, 2025 in an impounded Tesla after workers at a Hollywood tow yard reported a strong odor coming from the vehicle.
  
  

• The body was inside a bag in the front trunk (also known as “frunk”) of the Tesla.
  
  

• Celeste Rivas had been missing since around 5 April 2024, at which time she was 13. By the time of discovery, she was 15.
  
  

• Her identity was confirmed through forensic testing and a distinctive tattoo on her right index finger that reads “Shhh…,” a tattoo her mother says matches the one Rivas had.
  
  

• The cause and manner of death are still under investigation. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has deferred a final cause of death pending further evidence. 

What Has Not Been Confirmed

• There is no official confirmation yet whether Celeste Rivas had any relationship to d4vd beyond having been named in some reports as having had a “boyfriend named David.” Her mother reportedly said this, but law enforcement has not verified this connection publicly.
  
  

• The matching tattoo has been widely mentioned in media: both Celeste and d4vd are reported to have the same “Shhh…” tattoo. But authorities have not stated whether this tattoo is legally relevant to determining involvement or culpability in her death.
  
  

• No suspect has been named so far and no charges have been filed.

D4vd’s Status & Response

• d4vd’s representatives say he is fully cooperating with the authorities.
  
  

• He is currently on tour, promoting his music, though some performances have been canceled following the discovery. 

Photo source: d4vd/YouTube

The video One More Dance showed D4vd dragging a body and putting it in the trunk of a car.

Implications & Public Reaction

• The discovery has triggered alarm and grief, especially considering Celeste had been missing for over a year when her remains were found.
  
  

• The matching tattoo has drawn attention and speculation, though many caution against jumping to conclusions without more evidence.

What To Watch Next

• A definitive cause and manner of death from the medical examiner.
  
  

• Any public statements or clarifications from LAPD about how the vehicle came to be where it was found, who had access, and the timeline of events.
  
  

• Whether any new evidence (forensic, digital, communications) emerges linking the victim to any suspect(s).
  
  

• How this development affects pending tour dates, contracts, and public relationships for d4vd.

On Sunday, 21 September 2025, many gathered for a candle light vigil in Lake Elsinore, Calif., to pay tribute to Celeste Rivas Hernandez.