WHO IS D4VD AND WHY IS HE TRENDING?

In early September 2025, the singer d4vd (David Anthony Burke) was connected to a criminal investigation after human remains were found in a Tesla registered in his name. As the days pass, new evidence, public scrutiny, and conflicting narratives have surfaced. Below is a slide-by-slide walkthrough of what is known so far, along with the latest developments.

Early context & disappearance of Celeste Rivas

April 5, 2024: Celeste Rivas Hernandez, then 13, was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California.

Over the following months she remained missing; efforts by local law enforcement, media, and missing-children registries followed, but no public breakthroughs were made. (Background context)

Meanwhile, d4vd’s music career was rising: viral songs on TikTok, signing with Darkroom/Interscope, and touring in support of his debut album Withered (released April 2025).

Discovery of remains & initial link to d4vd

September 8, 2025: Responding to reports of a foul odour, LAPD officers inspected a Tesla in a Hollywood tow yard. They discovered human remains wrapped in plastic inside the front trunk (“frunk”) of the car.

The vehicle, towed after being found abandoned, was registered in Texas under David Anthony Burke’s name (d4vd).

At that point, authorities treated the case as a “death investigation”, no formal charges yet.

It was estimated that the body had been in the car for “extended time,” making precise determination of time and cause of death more complicated.

Identification, search warrants & cooperation

September 16–17, 2025: The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the remains as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

The cause of death was deferred (i.e. undetermined pending further forensic & toxicology analysis).

A search warrant was executed on a Hollywood Hills residence tied to d4vd (previously occupied by him or his team). Authorities seized electronics, computers, and other materials as evidence.

Investigators are retracing Celeste’s final days, seeking phone records, digital traces, cell towers, social media, etc., to establish her last known movements.

d4vd’s team has stated he is “fully cooperating” with law enforcement.

Fallout: tours, collaborations, public reaction

As a result of the identification and investigation, remaining U.S. tour dates were canceled.

Many forthcoming international tour dates have also been removed or suspended.

The deluxe edition of Withered (titled Marcescence), which was slated for release mid-September, was shelved amid the controversy.

Brands & collaborators have distanced themselves. For example, Crocs and Hollister dropped campaigns with d4vd. The artist Kali Uchis removed their joint track from streaming platforms.

In social media and fan communities, intense speculation and conspiracies have emerged — some pointing to themes in his songs, anime or manga imagery, or alleged matching tattoos between d4vd and Celeste. (Note: none of these are confirmed evidence at this point.)

Latest updates & new developments

September 23, 2025: Celeste Rivas’ body was released to her family by the Los Angeles County Coroner. A funeral was scheduled for October 4, 2025.

Authorities continue to press multiple angles of inquiry, with some recent focus shifting to d4vd’s brother and his manager — investigating whether they had knowledge, involvement, or connections relevant to the case.

The lease on the Hollywood Hills home tied to d4vd was reportedly terminated following the police search, and moving trucks were seen there.

New public attention has also arisen around a resurfaced interview in which d4vd described a manga/anime concept involving a detective and an “evil alter ego” who commits crimes — some interpreters see parallels with the case, though there is no direct evidence.

So far, no charges have been filed, and no one has been named a person of interest or suspect (publicly).

The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division continues to lead the investigation. Forensic and toxicology reports remain pending and are expected to be crucial to moving the case forward.

Key Open Questions

When exactly did Celeste die, and what was the cause/manner of death? How did her remains end up in the front trunk of the Tesla?

What relationship, if any, existed between Celeste and d4vd (or his associates)? Did others have access to or control of that vehicle?

What digital evidence (phones, messages, social media, location data) might help reconstruct her final hours? Will any formal charges be brought, and when?

As of now (late September 2025), this case remains an ongoing death investigation, not a criminal prosecution. d4vd is cooperating, but the discovery of remains in a vehicle tied to him has already had significant consequences: cancelled tours, suspended album plans, and reputational fallout.

The public and media will be watching closely as forensic evidence, legal filings, and new disclosures emerge.