The serene backdrop of the Hollywood Hills was shattered in early September 2025 by a discovery that sent shockwaves through the nation and the music industry. Within the impounded front trunk of a black Tesla, law enforcement found a severely decomposed body, a grim beginning to a case that would soon entangle a rising indie pop sensation and unravel a timeline shrouded in unsettling secrets. The victim was identified as Celeste Hernandez, a 15-year-old from the Inland Empire, who had been missing since early 2024. The Tesla, registered to 20-year-old David Anthony Burke, known by his stage name D4vd, instantly placed him at the heart of a burgeoning mystery that has gripped public attention and ignited a firestorm of speculation.

D4vd, a singer-songwriter who soared to public attention in July 2022 with his viral hit “Romantic Homicide,” quickly amassed millions of followers. However, his newfound fame took a dark turn on September 8, 2025, when LAPD officers responded to reports of a foul odor emanating from an abandoned Tesla at an LA tow yard. The vehicle, bearing Texas license plates, had been left on a Hollywood Hill street for weeks before its impoundment. The subsequent discovery of Celeste Hernandez’s remains, wrapped in a bag and in an advanced state of decay, launched a death investigation, with some sources describing it as a homicide probe.

The LA County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Celeste’s identity on September 16, revealing she had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California, in 2024, at the tender age of 13. While the cause of death could not be immediately determined due to the state of decomposition, investigators noted her remains had likely been in the vehicle for an extended period. The LAPD robbery-homicide division quickly took over the case, executing a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills property where D4vd had been residing, seizing electronics and computers. Crucially, as of the latest reports, D4vd has not been named a suspect, and his publicist maintains his full cooperation with the police.

Celeste, a teen from Lake Elsinore, had a history of running away, though she had always returned home in the past. Further personal details emerged after her identification, including a distinctive “shush” tattoo on her right index finger, a detail that would later become a chilling piece of the puzzle. Her family members later confirmed that Celeste had been in a relationship with a person named David, and her brother explicitly told news outlets that she knew D4vd.

The immediate fallout for D4vd’s career was severe. He canceled the remainder of his US tour dates, and several brands, collaborators, and even friends publicly distanced themselves. Social media and internet forums erupted with theories as users began connecting the dots between D4vd and Celeste, revealing a relationship that many found deeply disturbing, especially given the apparent age difference between a then 13-year-old Celeste and D4vd.

Evidence of their connection quickly surfaced. Discord message exchanges showed D4vd asking for Celeste, with her replying “Hi David bark.” Another exchange within a Discord server confirmed D4vd was dating someone named Celeste. Perhaps most eerily, a social media post where a commenter playfully asked D4vd about adoption led to his reply, tagging a user whose username was “0907,” a date that coincides with Celeste’s September 7th birthday.

A tweet from D4vd on May 10, 2022, also gained significant attention. It read, “When I was writing this I got a notification from you as you were talking about wanting to be with your mom and sister again take me where I belong but our circumstances won’t allow us to be in our ideal situations we’ve got to push through it.” This cryptic message led some online commentators to speculate about a potential pregnancy or D4vd’s knowledge of such a situation. Further circulating photographs and a video online showed D4vd with a woman resembling Celeste, including a video featuring a girl in pink pants who bore a striking resemblance to the missing teen.

Adding another layer of unsettling coincidence, both Celeste and D4vd were found to have identical “shush” tattoos on their right index fingers. This tattoo, initially used to help identify Celeste’s body, appeared in photographs of D4vd from 2025, raising questions about the matching ink and the nature of their bond. With this undeniable link established, public opinion became sharply divided. Many outright accused D4vd of murder, while others cautioned against premature judgment, highlighting the lack of concrete proof tying him directly to her death.

Counter-arguments emerged, pointing to D4vd’s tour schedule, which placed him outside of Los Angeles at the time Celeste’s body was discovered. Publicly documented dates showed him performing hundreds of miles away in Minneapolis on September 9, with other Midwest stops. However, some theorized that D4vd could have enlisted others to move the car, conceal the body, or otherwise cover up his involvement. While this idea circulated on social media, law enforcement has not confirmed it as a working theory, nor has evidence of accomplices been presented. For those convinced of his guilt, theories ranged from accidental pregnancy leading to her death or D4vd himself being directly responsible.

The case took an even more disturbing turn as fans delved deeper, uncovering a Discord exchange where a fan explicitly asked D4vd to “Drop the one with a missing girl Celeste Hernandez.” This pointed to the alleged existence of a song about her. A leaked demo track, purportedly by D4vd and titled “Celeste,” began circulating online. The lyrics painted a possessive and obsessive picture: “Be my Valentine I want to make Cupid these are the thoughts that cross my mind just because just because oh Celeste the girl with my name tattooed on her chest smell her on my clothes like cigarettes hear her voice each time I take a breath i am obsessed oh Celeste afraid you’ll only love me when I’m undressed but you look so damn gorgeous in that dress missing you so much it makes me depressed but I digress i love you so so much i love it when you hold me when you cry just because just because.” Fans noted that Celeste was only 13 when this song was allegedly written and recorded.

Another song, “Decide,” also caught attention with the lyrics: “I decide you decide we decide we can’t go back can we just take our time save your tears 7 years i know life is complicated you don’t have to say no more we both have to find a way to make it work my head is aching and you’re the one who started this.” The chilling implication here was that Celeste was seven years away from legal age when the song was released, leading to theories of an “eerie hidden message.”

The subtle musical messages didn’t end there. D4vd’s hit “Romantic Homicide” was released on YouTube on September 7, a date that strikingly coincides with Celeste’s birthday. Finally, the song “Here With Me,” with its lyrics “I don’t care how long it takes as long as I’m with you,” has been reinterpreted by fans as hinting at D4vd waiting for Celeste to reach legal age before making their relationship public.

The question of “why was he so brazen?” and “why did no one do anything?” became central to the public discourse. An eerie Reddit post surfaced, with one user claiming, “This guy is a weirdo a close friend’s little sister from the IE ran away last year and this is who she was with we think her sister was pimping her out she was in seventh grade at the time lapd sweeped his place in the hills i’m terrified that was in the car nobody has heard from her in months i won’t release names as she’s still a minor but she was from Lake Elsenor.” While initially met with skepticism by another user, the original poster vehemently maintained the truth of their statement.

A recently surfaced clip from a livestream showed Celeste and D4vd together, further cementing their connection in the public eye. Another video clip showed D4vd discussing his five-year plan, stating, “on the fourth year I retire and on the fifth year I’m off the grid living somewhere like on an island with this crazy crib no social media no digital footprint i’m just gone,” a statement that now takes on a sinister tone in light of the unfolding events.

As of late 2025, the case remains active with more questions than answers. Investigators continue to analyze evidence from the Tesla and D4vd’s home, and the LAPD is actively examining Celeste’s last known whereabouts and surveillance footage. D4vd and his team have maintained minimal public statements beyond his cooperation, and he has disabled comments on his social media. Law enforcement urges anyone with information to come forward, stating that no possibilities have been ruled out, including unknown accomplices, alternate suspects, or unrelated bad actors.

In the wake of Celeste’s tragic death, many fans have re-examined D4vd’s public persona, particularly his recurring fixation on death and murder in his artistic expression. His stage performances often featured dark, morbid outfits, resembling funeral attire or blood-splattered clothing. What was once dismissed as theatrical expression now carries a far more sinister undertone. Some on Reddit and Twitter argue that this aesthetic wasn’t merely artistic sentiment but a disturbing obsession. This theory gained traction with a leaked Discord message where D4vd allegedly expressed a preference for watching gore over consensual adult content, stating, “I love gore.”

The most unsettling aspect of the entire saga is how openly D4vd seemingly documented his connection to Celeste – bringing her on stream, taking photographs, and allegedly writing and singing songs about her. It’s as if the truth was hidden in plain sight.

The timeline of events paints a stark picture:

March 2022: D4vd releases “Decide” with the lyric “Save your tears 7 years,” interpreted by some as seven years from Celeste reaching legal age.
May 2022: A tweet from D4vd about a girl wanting to be “taken where I belong,” fitting Celeste’s age of 11 at the time.
July 2022: “Romantic Homicide” is recorded, and its music video is released on Celeste’s 12th birthday.
October 2022: Private Discord messages show D4vd asking for Celeste, who then appears in the chat.
December 2023: The alleged “Celeste” song is recorded, and photographs of them together surface.
March 2024: Private Discord discussions about D4vd dating a girl named Celeste.
April 2024: The last time Celeste is seen by her family.
August 2024: Discord messages request a song about the missing girl, explicitly naming Celeste.
September 2024: Celeste turns 14, and the first photograph showing the “shush” tattoos appears.
September 2025: Celeste turns 15 and is tragically found dead in D4vd’s Tesla.

This deeply unsettling narrative continues to unfold, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and a chilling reflection on the blurred lines between art, obsession, and a tragic reality.