LAPD Identifies Singer D4vd as Suspect in 15-Year-Old Celeste Rivas' Death

The body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas was found in the front trunk of a black Tesla Model S parked on Lookout Mountain Avenue in the Hollywood Hills on September 8, 2025. But what shocked investigators wasn’t just the grim discovery—it was the realization that she’d been dead for months. Forensic analysis now points to spring 2025 as the likely time of death, creating a chilling gap in the timeline that’s become central to one of Los Angeles’ most disturbing recent cases. The vehicle, registered to 19-year-old pop singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, had sat untouched on the street for nearly a month before being reported and impounded. Now, the Los Angeles Police Department has identified Burke as the primary suspect in her death.

From Rising Star to Suspect

D4vd, whose synth-pop tracks like "I’m Not Your Boyfriend" and "Dancing in the Dark" charted on Billboard’s Top 40 in 2024 and early 2025, had been riding a wave of viral success. His fanbase was young, loyal, and growing fast. But within days of the Tesla’s discovery, his world unraveled. He canceled his nationwide tour. He vacated his rental home at 2245 Micheltorena Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026, where he’d lived since January 2025. By late September, he’d vanished from California—reportedly relocating to Texas, where he’s remained out of public view.

His management team initially claimed he was "fully cooperating" with police. But according to an LAPD source who spoke exclusively to NBC4 Los Angeles on November 18, 2025, that statement was false. "That was never true," the source told investigative reporter Eric Leonard. "He didn’t just avoid interviews—he stopped answering subpoenas. He didn’t just leave town—he disappeared."

The Timeline That Doesn’t Add Up

The most baffling part of the case is the time gap. Celeste Rivas’ body was found on September 8, 2025. But decomposition patterns, insect activity, and digital evidence—like her last known phone ping near a Starbucks in Silver Lake on April 12, 2025—suggest she died between March and May of that year. That means her remains were stored in the trunk of a car parked in plain sight for at least four months. How? Why? And who helped?

LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division, working with its Scientific Investigation Division, has determined that the concealment was deliberate and prolonged. "This wasn’t a panicked act," said one investigator familiar with the case. "This was calculated. Someone knew the car wouldn’t be checked for weeks. Someone knew how to avoid cameras." The vehicle’s license plate, 4FJK291, was never reported stolen. The Tesla’s GPS data shows it was rarely moved after April 2025. Yet, the trunk remained sealed—no signs of forced entry, no evidence of attempted cleanup. It was as if the body was meant to stay hidden… until it didn’t.

Who Was Celeste Rivas?

Authorities have released little about the teenager. She was a resident of Los Angeles County, 15 years old, and attended a public high school in the San Fernando Valley. No criminal record. No known connection to D4vd publicly documented. Her family has not spoken to media. But neighbors who knew her describe a quiet girl who loved sketching, posted poetry on a private Instagram account, and often walked to the corner store after school.

There’s no evidence she was a fan of D4vd’s music. No social media interactions between them have surfaced. Yet, investigators believe they knew each other—perhaps through mutual friends, perhaps through a party scene that’s now under intense scrutiny. The LAPD is reviewing security footage from gas stations, convenience stores, and apartment complexes near both the Tesla’s parking spot and Burke’s former home. They’re also analyzing phone records from dozens of contacts in D4vd’s circle.

Another Person Involved?

The most alarming development: LAPD believes at least one other person helped dispose of the body. "We’re not talking about a friend who drove the car," said the source. "We’re talking about someone who had access to the vehicle, knew the timeline, and helped move or hide her before the trunk became a storage unit."

So far, no other suspects have been named. But investigators are looking closely at two individuals: a 20-year-old assistant who worked briefly for D4vd’s tour manager in March 2025, and a 17-year-old girl who was seen near the Tesla on April 5, 2025, according to a grainy traffic camera. Both have been interviewed. Neither has been charged.

What Happens Next?

No formal charges have been filed against D4vd as of November 18, 2025. But prosecutors are reportedly reviewing evidence for potential charges of murder, concealment of a corpse, and obstruction of justice. With the statute of limitations for murder in California being indefinite, authorities have time—but pressure is mounting. Celeste’s family is demanding answers. Fans are divided. Some still defend D4vd as a victim of circumstance. Others call for accountability.

The Tesla has been held as evidence. The rental property on Micheltorena Street is now under forensic review. Investigators are still searching for any digital traces—deleted texts, hidden cloud files, encrypted chats—that might explain why a teenager vanished and how her body ended up in a car parked for months in broad daylight.

Why This Case Resonates

This isn’t just another celebrity scandal. It’s a story about power, silence, and the vulnerability of teenagers in a world that often ignores them until it’s too late. Celeste Rivas didn’t have millions of followers. She didn’t have a publicist. But her death, and the way it was hidden, has become a mirror for how society treats the unseen.

Meanwhile, D4vd’s music continues to stream. His latest single, released just days before the body was found, still appears on Spotify playlists. The disconnect is jarring. For now, the only thing louder than his songs is the silence from his legal team.