Singer Identified as Suspect in Teen's Tragic Death
American singer D4vd has been named as a suspect in the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose body was discovered inside his Tesla at a Los Angeles tow yard. According to sources within the Los Angeles Police Department speaking to NBC4 Investigates, the artist, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is under investigation for his alleged involvement.
The decomposed body of Rivas was found in September within the front trunk, commonly known as the 'frunk', of a black Tesla registered to the singer. The vehicle had been ticketed for a parking violation in the Hollywood Hills neighbourhood before being transported to the Hollywood Tow lot, where workers reported a powerful odour leading to the grim discovery.
Timeline of a Tragedy
Celeste Rivas was first reported missing from her home in Lake Elsinore, located approximately 60 miles from Los Angeles, in April 2024. Police have indicated that she likely died in the spring, meaning her body may have been inside the vehicle for several months before being found.
Authorities have revealed that D4vd is suspected of having helped dismember and dispose of the body. Furthermore, an LAPD source stated that the singer has not been cooperative with the ongoing investigation into the teenager's death.
The cause of death has not been officially determined, but the medical examiner's office confirmed in a statement that Rivas "appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found". The LAPD is treating her death as a homicide.
Connection and Aftermath
The connection between the singer and the teenager is not entirely unknown. Rivas's brother informed NBC Los Angeles that the family was aware his sister knew the artist and that she was reportedly on her way to see a movie with him just before she vanished.
Adding to the timeline, D4vd had received a parking ticket for the Tesla in the Hollywood Hills just 11 days before Rivas's body was discovered. Residents in the area told local news that the vehicle had been parked there for over a month, having overstayed the three-day parking limit.
At the time the remains were found, D4vd, known for his hits "Romantic Homicide" and "Here With Me", was on tour. He subsequently cancelled his remaining appearances. The singer, signed to Darkroom and Interscope records, had been staying at a property in the Hollywood Hills with his manager, according to the landlord, until police searched the residence.
