The music world and true crime enthusiasts are reeling from a shocking development that links a rising Gen Z star, singer-songwriter David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, to a chilling homicide investigation. On September 8th, a decomposing body, later identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, was discovered in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to the “Romantic Homicide” artist. This grim find has cast a dark shadow over D4vd’s burgeoning career, leading to the cancellation of his tour and intense scrutiny from law enforcement and the public alike.

The unraveling of this disturbing case began when police responded to reports of a foul odor emanating from a Tesla impounded at Hollywood Tow Service in Los Angeles. What investigators found within the trunk was unimaginable: human remains, dismembered and in an advanced state of decomposition. The car’s registration quickly pointed to D4vd, whose hit song “Romantic Homicide” propelled him to TikTok fame in 2022. The victim, Celeste Rivas, had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California, in April of the previous year, when she was just 13 years old. Her 15th birthday would have been the day before her body was discovered.

The medical examiner’s report provided initial details about Celeste’s body, noting she was wearing a tube top, black leggings, a yellow bracelet, and stud earrings. Most strikingly, Celeste had a tattoo on her right index finger that read “Sh,” a detail that eerily connects her to D4vd, who also sports the identical tattoo on his finger. While no one has been officially named as a suspect, the Los Angeles Police Department is treating this as a homicide investigation, and all signs appear to be converging on the young singer.

Lauren Conland, host of the Outlier podcast and a pop crime TV reporter, shed light on D4vd’s rapid ascent to fame, highlighting his massive online presence with approximately 2 million Instagram followers and a history of engaging with his fanbase through Discord and live streams. It’s in this online realm that further disturbing connections to Celeste Rivas have emerged. Celeste was reportedly seen in two of D4vd’s streams, with Discord moderators later claiming they were unaware she was missing or that she was only 13 or 14 at the time, believing her to be 18 or 19. These moderators have since distanced themselves from D4vd and the unfolding events.

The age discrepancy between D4vd and Celeste is a critical element in the investigation. D4vd is currently 20 years old, meaning he would have been 18 when he was reportedly spending time with Celeste. A former teacher of Celeste’s went viral after claiming Celeste met D4vd on social media and that he picked her up in April 2024. After her mother reported her missing and police brought her home, Celeste disappeared again in May 2024.

Compounding the concern is a resurfaced photo of D4vd himself, visibly distressed in a shower, wearing Hello Kitty pants – the same description provided in Celeste’s missing flyer. While police maintain that no suspect has been named, these “red flags” are accumulating. D4vd’s tour dates have been canceled, likely at the behest of LAPD.

Adding another layer of unsettling detail, some of D4vd’s song lyrics, particularly from “Romantic Homicide,” contain disturbing themes. The song includes lines like, “In the back of my mind, I killed you and I didn’t even regret it.” His music videos often appear to glorify themes of romance and death, a chilling coincidence given the current circumstances. Even more perturbing, an internet sleuth uncovered a lesser-known song reportedly written and recorded by D4vd in 2023, titled “Celeste,” where he allegedly sings about a girl he loves and mentions a tattoo on her chest. This detail, combined with discussions reportedly referencing Epstein and the assault of children during their Discord streams, which were quickly deleted, paints an alarming picture. It’s also noted that Celeste often appeared in these streams with her face partially obscured by a hood or large glasses, suggesting a desire to remain hidden, perhaps from disapproving parents.

During an undated past interview, D4vd described himself as an “internet kid,” stating, “The internet is really what I claim as my home.” He spoke of being homeschooled and that his environment hadn’t shaped his artistry, only the internet. This background underscores the online nature of his connection with Celeste.

The “think tank” assembled by Court TV, including criminal defense attorney Josh Kohl’s, former law enforcement officer Claudia King, and private investigator Lauren Valuchcci, weighed in on the complexity of the case. Kohl’s emphasized that “there’s no such thing as coincidence” in violent criminal cases and that every “coincidence is circumstantial evidence or a data point that points at motive.” He highlighted the importance of the Tesla’s data, which acts like a “supercomputer” and can provide crucial timeline information regarding D4vd’s whereabouts at the time of the body’s discovery. The pending cause of death and toxicology reports are also eagerly awaited. Kohl’s noted D4vd’s representatives stated he is cooperating, but pointed out the absence of explicit denials, such as “he didn’t do it” or “he didn’t know her,” which would typically be expected in such a situation. This suggests D4vd is “lawyering up” and taking the situation seriously.

Claudia King echoed Kohl’s sentiments, stating there’s “definitely smoke here.” She highlighted the challenges for law enforcement, as D4vd could potentially claim that others within his organization had access to the car or the Hollywood Hills home that was searched. Detectives executed a search warrant at the home D4vd had been staying at, removing a computer and other items. Valuchcci, from a private investigator’s perspective, detailed the meticulous search efforts in a dismemberment case, including examining drains for tissue samples and specifically looking for blood evidence to place Celeste in the home. She found the act of dismemberment followed by abandoning the car “a few blocks away” from home “very strange,” suggesting a possible “mental break.”

The age gap also raises concerns about potential additional charges. Josh Kohl’s suggested that if evidence of any sexual contact between D4vd and Celeste is found on their phones, sex abuse charges could be brought alongside any homicide charges. The investigation is ongoing, with D4vd’s tour dates officially canceled. The world watches as this chilling story continues to unfold, leaving many questions about the dark side of internet fame and the tragic fate of a young girl.