The Los Angeles music scene has been rocked by a chilling and complex investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose dismembered and badly decomposed remains were discovered in the trunk of a Tesla belonging to rising artist D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke. The case, which has unfolded in a swirl of legal battles, family subpoenas, and unanswered questions, has captured national attention as new court documents continue to reveal disturbing details.
It was September 8, 2025, just one day after Celeste Rivas would have turned 15, when workers at a Hollywood Hills tow yard first reported a foul stench emanating from an abandoned black Tesla Model X. According to The California Post and KPRC 2, the car had been sitting for days after being towed from a nearby street, never reported as stolen and registered to Burke at a Hempstead, Texas address. When Los Angeles police obtained a search warrant and opened the front trunk, they were met with a gruesome discovery: two black cadaver bags, one containing Rivas’ head and torso, the other her severed arms and legs, both swarming with insects and in an advanced state of decomposition.
The process of identifying the remains was painstaking, taking more than a week due to the severe decomposition. Eventually, authorities confirmed the victim as Celeste Abigail Rivas Hernandez, who had run away from her home in Lake Elsinore, California, and had been reported missing in 2024. According to statements from her mother, Celeste had a boyfriend named David, and both shared matching tattoos—further linking the teenager to the artist now under investigation.
As the investigation unfolded, rumors of an illicit relationship between D4vd and the underage Rivas began to swirl. Authorities confirmed that the singer had a relationship with the teen, and an unreleased love song by D4vd reportedly referenced "Celeste" by name in both its unfinished title and lyrics. Despite the mounting scrutiny, D4vd initially continued his world tour, cooperating with law enforcement, but ultimately canceled the remainder of his shows in February 2026 as the legal pressure intensified.
According to Court TV and court documents obtained by KPRC 2, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office launched a grand jury investigation, naming David Burke as the "Target" in the death of Celeste Rivas. The proceedings, conducted in secret as required by law, have seen a flurry of legal maneuvers involving Burke’s family and associates. Both of Burke’s parents, Dawud and Colleen Burke, as well as his brother Caleb, were subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury in Los Angeles earlier this month. Prosecutors argued that Dawud Burke’s testimony was "material and necessary" to the investigation, offering round-trip airfare, transportation, and immunity from arrest during his travel to California.
The legal wrangling did not end there. Dawud Burke’s attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus in Texas, claiming the subpoena was unlawful due to a lack of full, unredacted documentation supporting the request. While Judge Gary W. Chaney initially granted the writ, he ultimately denied it on February 6, 2026, allowing the subpoena to stand. Burke’s legal team has since filed an appeal, and the matter remains pending in the courts, as reported by KPRC 2.
Meanwhile, D4vd’s friend, streamer Neo Langston, became entangled in the investigation after being subpoenaed as a witness. When Langston failed to appear before the grand jury in late January 2026, he was arrested and later compelled to testify. According to Court TV, no charges have been filed in Rivas’ death as of the latest reports, though the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The case has not been officially classified as a homicide, as the medical examiner has yet to determine a definitive cause of death. Nonetheless, a detective described the matter as "an investigation into murder" in one court filing, and LAPD now considers D4vd a suspect, with the belief that a second individual may also have been involved. Police have also raided a home connected to D4vd, where, according to a private investigator cited in KPRC 2, items believed to be used to "get rid of a person" were found. D4vd has since moved out of the residence and hired a high-profile defense attorney to represent him as the probe intensifies.
The investigation has also been complicated by the lack of transparency from the medical examiner’s office, which has stopped sharing records related to Rivas’ death. This has fueled speculation and frustration among those following the case, as key details about how and why the teenager died remain elusive. Police have stated that, aside from the concealment of the body—a crime that would carry a relatively light punishment—it is "unclear" whether any other crime has been committed. Yet, the detective’s reference to a murder investigation and the grand jury’s focus on D4vd suggest that authorities are pursuing the matter with utmost seriousness.
For the Rivas family, the tragedy is compounded by the length of time Celeste was missing and the horrific circumstances of her death. The discovery of her gravestone, engraved with religious imagery and her full name, stands as a somber reminder of a life cut short. The case has also raised broader questions about the responsibilities of public figures, the vulnerabilities of runaway teens, and the challenges law enforcement faces when high-profile suspects are involved.
As the legal battles continue and the grand jury deliberates, the fate of D4vd remains uncertain. The secrecy of the proceedings means that a decision on whether to bring charges could come at any time—or not at all. For now, the music world and the public at large are left waiting, watching, and wondering what new revelations might emerge from a case that has already delivered more than its share of heartbreak and horror.
While the investigation into Celeste Rivas’ death remains unresolved, its impact on those involved—and on the broader community—will not soon be forgotten.