Singer D4vd Named Suspect After Teen Found Dead in Trunk of His Tesla

Singer D4vd, known offstage as David Anthony Burke, has been named a suspect in the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after her remains were discovered in the trunk of a Tesla he owned, according to a Los Angeles Police Department source familiar with the case. The teen’s body was found in September at an impound lot after the vehicle had been parked and unattended for several weeks. Additional details surrounding the investigation were later referenced which outlined the early timeline and recovery of the vehicle.

Burke has not been charged with a crime, and authorities say the cause and manner of Rivas Hernandez’s death remain undetermined. A law enforcement source said investigators believe she most likely died in the spring and suggested D4vd may have had assistance in dismembering and disposing of the body, though those claims have not been publicly confirmed. Police also say Burke has not been cooperative with detectives. His legal team has not commented on the newest developments, and a spokesperson previously said he was cooperating with the investigation.

The teen had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California, after last being seen on April 5, 2024. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department documented her disappearance, and months passed before her remains were located in the trunk of the impounded Tesla on September 8. Because the vehicle had gone untouched for weeks, authorities believe she may have been deceased for an extended period before discovery.

A Case Still Searching for Answers

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office said her cause and manner of death remain deferred pending further analysis. Without a final ruling on whether her death was a homicide, police initially stated it was unclear whether criminal culpability extended beyond concealing a body. The Robbery-Homicide Division has since taken the lead, stating it is conducting a comprehensive review to uncover the circumstances of her death and determine who, if anyone, is responsible.

After news of the investigation surfaced, D4vd canceled the remaining dates of his U.S. tour in September. Burke has remained publicly silent since.

The investigation continues, and authorities say they are reviewing physical evidence, digital records and witness statements to establish a clear timeline of events leading up to the teen’s death. For the family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the search for answers remains ongoing as investigators work toward determining how she died and whether she was the victim of a crime.