Rising R&B Singer D4vd Named Suspect in Death of 15-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez

The decomposing, dismembered body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in the trunk of a Tesla parked at a Los Angeles impound lot on September 8, 2025 — a grim discovery that has since spiraled into one of the city’s most chilling investigations. The vehicle, registered to 20-year-old singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, had been abandoned on a Hollywood street days earlier. Now, over two months later, police sources tell ABC News and NBC Los Angeles that D4vd is a suspect in Hernandez’s death — and that he may have received help from others in disposing of her remains. The case, still active and without arrests as of November 20, 2025, has left a community stunned and the music world reeling.

How a Tesla Led to a Murder Investigation

The Tesla sat untouched for two days after being reported abandoned near Highland Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard. When towed to the impound, a routine inventory revealed something horrifying: a human body, badly decomposed and dismembered. Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department quickly traced the vehicle’s registration to Burke, whose stage name D4vd has earned him over 1.2 million monthly Spotify listeners and a growing fanbase in the alternative R&B scene. Hernandez, a sophomore at a public high school in Los Angeles County, was last seen alive in March 2025. Her family reported her missing in April, but no serious effort was made to locate her until the car was found.

Timeline of a Horror Unfolding

Investigators now believe Hernandez died in the spring — possibly between late March and early May 2025 — long before her body was discovered. The delay in detection raises troubling questions. Why wasn’t she reported missing sooner? Why did her body remain hidden for nearly six months? LAPD sources say forensic analysis of the vehicle’s interior and the condition of the remains suggest the dismemberment occurred in a controlled environment, possibly a residence or studio. The same sources told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade on November 19, 2025, that the investigation had taken a "new turn," with D4vd becoming a focal point. "Nobody has been excluded," said one investigator in a leaked transcript, "but we’re focusing in on certain individuals."

Why D4vd Is a Suspect — And Why It Matters

What makes this case so jarring isn’t just the brutality — it’s the contrast between D4vd’s public persona and the alleged crime. His music, often moody and introspective, has drawn comparisons to artists like Frank Ocean and The Weeknd. He’s appeared on late-night TV, performed at Coachella’s smaller stages, and even had a song featured in a Netflix teen drama. To his fans, he’s a quiet, artistic soul. To investigators, he’s now a person of interest with no alibi for the critical months of spring 2025. According to ABC News, D4vd has not cooperated with detectives. He hasn’t been interviewed under oath. His lawyer, if he has one, has not made a public statement. That silence speaks volumes.

Investigators also suspect others were involved. The dismemberment alone suggests more than one person — or at least someone with knowledge of anatomy or tools. One LAPD source told NBC Los Angeles that the body was "carefully cut," indicating planning, not panic. Could a friend have helped? A studio assistant? A romantic partner? The investigation is still wide open.

The Medical Examiner’s Silent Role

As of November 20, 2025, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released a cause or manner of death. No toxicology report is public. No time of death has been finalized. This delay is unusual. In most homicide cases, preliminary findings come within weeks. The fact that it’s been over two months suggests either complex forensic challenges — perhaps DNA degradation from decomposition — or political pressure. One veteran coroner, speaking anonymously, said: "If the body was this far gone and the scene was this staged, they’re either dealing with someone who knows how to cover tracks… or someone who’s being protected."

What This Means for Celeste’s Family and Fans

Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s mother, Maria Hernandez, has not spoken publicly since her daughter’s disappearance. But neighbors say she spent months visiting police stations, posting flyers, and begging for help. "She didn’t give up," said a cousin, who asked not to be named. "She kept saying, ‘She’s not a runaway. She wouldn’t just leave.’" Now, with D4vd named a suspect, the family may finally get answers — but at a terrible cost. Fans of D4vd, meanwhile, are divided. Some are in shock. Others are defending him online, calling the allegations "a media circus." One fan tweeted: "He wrote a song about loneliness. Does that make him a killer?" But investigators aren’t judging art. They’re following evidence.

What Happens Next?

Authorities say they’re reviewing surveillance footage from the Hollywood area between March and August 2025. They’re also analyzing cell tower pings tied to D4vd’s phone and the Tesla’s GPS history. If the vehicle was driven to a remote location — say, a mountain trail or abandoned warehouse — that could reveal where the body was stored before being moved to Hollywood. Prosecutors are reportedly preparing for a possible grand jury presentation. No charges have been filed, but sources say an indictment could come as early as December. The real question isn’t whether D4vd will be arrested — it’s whether others will be dragged into the light with him.