The case against singer David Anthony Burke (D4vd) has intensified with the re-emergence of an “unseen” video allegedly showing him meticulously wiping down the sneakers of the 15-year-old victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez. This footage adds a disturbing new layer to an already dark timeline, suggesting a chilling pattern of control and obsession that predates the discovery of Celeste’s body in the front trunk of D4vd’s Tesla in September 2025.

A Timeline of Disturbing Allegations

The investigation, driven by a combination of physical evidence and digital receipts, paints a picture of a predatory relationship that began years before the tragedy:

Grooming Pattern: Reports allege the connection began as early as 2021 when Celeste was 11 or 12 and D4vd was 16 to 18. This is supported by Discord chats and a live stream where D4vd was seen with Celeste before panicking and ordering moderators to delete the footage.
Physical Bond: Both D4vd and Celeste shared matching “Shh sure” tattoos on their right index fingers. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner used this unique ink to help confirm Celeste’s identity, linking her directly to the artist.
The “Celeste” Demo: A leaked SoundCloud track from December 2023, titled “Celeste,” was found to contain possessive and disturbing lyrics and was released months before her final disappearance in April 2024.
Evidence of Control: Celeste’s mother confirmed her daughter was dating someone named David, and a former teacher highlighted a troubling pattern of her running away, often to Hollywood, where D4vd was located.

The Industry’s Swift and Ironic Fallout

Following the discovery of Celeste’s remains in the abandoned Tesla, the music and corporate world executed a rapid “cancelation,” though the public reaction was highly mixed:

Corporate Backlash: D4vd’s entire North American and European tour was canceled. Interscope Records shelved his upcoming album, and corporate partners like Crocs and Hollister yanked their deals. Even Fortnite renamed his emote to distance the brand.
Dark Irony: Despite the widespread condemnation, his breakout hit, “Romantic Homicide,” skyrocketed 102 spots on Spotify’s global charts, demonstrating a twisted public fascination with the crime and the music now seen as a potential confession. The song, which features lyrics like “In the back of my mind I eliminated you and I didn’t even regret it,” became impossible to separate from the allegations.

The Search for the “Smoking Gun”

The investigation has been aggressive, yet D4vd remains uncharged. Key details of the probe include:

Mansion Raid: The LAPD’s robbery-homicide division executed a search warrant on a Hollywood Hills mansion D4vd had been renting from his manager, Josh Marshall. Investigators used luminol kits and scoured drains, looking for trace evidence of blood or tissue related to the dismembered body.
A Wall of Silence: D4vd, after initially cooperating with police, has gone completely silent, a move legal experts suggest is strategic now that his home has been searched.
Legal Strategy: Prosecutors face the challenge of proving D4vd was present during the murder or the disposal of the body. However, the accumulation of digital evidence pointing to his relationship with the underage victim could lead to statutory charges, regardless of the homicide outcome.

As the police keep silent and the evidence piles up, D4vd’s silence becomes increasingly deafening, forcing the public to confront the grim possibility that the disturbing themes in his music were not artistic fiction, but a dark, coded reality.