Rising R&B Star D4vd Now Named A Suspect In Death Of 15-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Written by b87fm on 11/18/2025
The mysterious death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez has taken a chilling turn as rising R&B artist D4vd is now being considered a suspect in her killing, according to a new TMZ report.
Rivas’ remains were discovered earlier this year in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the 20-year-old singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke. The teen had vanished from Lake Elsinore in April 2024 at age 13, and the nature of her relationship with Burke has been a central thread of the investigation.
Despite his connection to the abandoned vehicle and the deceased teen, Burke had not previously been formally identified as a suspect. That changed this week.
TMZ — citing law enforcement sources — reported Tuesday that the Los Angeles Police Department now considers Burke a suspect, and investigators are scrutinizing a trip he allegedly took earlier this year to a remote part of Santa Barbara County.
When reached for comment, an LAPD spokesperson said the department could not confirm the report. However, other outlets have begun echoing similar details.
Authorities have said that Burke has been cooperating with the investigation. In September, police executed a search warrant at a residence he was reportedly renting.
Rivas’ mother told investigators her daughter had a boyfriend named “David” when she disappeared. Photos circulating online appear to show Burke and the teen together, suggesting they at least knew each other. Reports also claim the pair shared matching “Shhh” tattoos on their right index fingers. Friends in Burke’s circle allegedly believed the girl was 19.
The grim discovery of Rivas’ head and torso on Sept. 8 came after employees at Hollywood Tow reported a foul smell coming from the Tesla, which had been sitting on the lot for five days after being towed from the Hollywood Hills. Her body was found one day after what would have been her 15th birthday, though the Medical Examiner believes she had been dead for weeks.
While TMZ reports the LAPD is treating the incident as a homicide, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has listed the cause of death as “deferred,” pending further testing — one of hundreds of open cases with the same designation.
Burke, known for his explosive rise in R&B and hip-hop and millions of social media followers, has not been charged with any crime as of now, according to KTLA.
The investigation remains active, with new revelations continuing to deepen one of Southern California’s most disturbing cases in years.
