The music world has been rocked by a chilling and complex criminal investigation involving rising star D4vd (real name Davide Burke) and the tragic death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas. What began as a missing persons case in April 2024 has escalated into a high-profile homicide probe, with prosecutors reportedly preparing to ask a Los Angeles grand jury to indict the 20-year-old singer for murder. The case, which has drawn intense public scrutiny and widespread media coverage, continues to unfold in dramatic and sometimes bewildering fashion.
Celeste Rivas was first reported missing from her home in Lake Elsinore on April 5, 2024, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office. Months passed with few public developments, until September 8, 2025—one day before what would have been her 15th birthday—when her remains were discovered wrapped in plastic inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd. The vehicle, which had been towed from the Hollywood Hills area after being reported abandoned, was sitting in a Los Angeles tow yard when police made the grisly find. As abc7 and TMZ both reported, the car’s registration directly linked the case to the young musician, whose chart-topping singles "Romantic Homicide" and "Here with Me" catapulted him to fame just a few years earlier.
Authorities quickly zeroed in on D4vd, who was known to have had a relationship with Celeste. According to the Riverside Sheriff's Office and multiple sources cited by TMZ and CrimeOnline, the two had been romantically involved—a fact corroborated by Celeste’s mother, who told investigators her daughter had been dating someone named "David." Further evidence emerged from Discord fan server screenshots and an unreleased D4vd song referencing the name "Celeste" twice, fueling speculation and deepening the public’s fascination with the case.
As the investigation intensified, police executed a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills mansion rented by D4vd for $20,000 a month. There, a private investigator hired by the property owner discovered a boxed, unused "burn cage" incinerator—advertised to burn at 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit—along with several farm tools that, according to the investigator, "could be used to get rid of a body." In a post on X (formerly Twitter), private investigator Steve Fischer described the incinerator as the sort of thing "you would expect to find on a farm rather than in a home in the Hollywood Hills." While the incinerator had not been used, its presence added a disturbing layer to the growing body of circumstantial evidence.
Investigators also seized several items from the rental property, including a laptop, as reported by Reel360 and CrimeOnline. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department placed a security hold on the case, barring release of the cause and manner of death and the autopsy report. The medical examiner has not determined an exact cause of death due to the advanced state of decomposition, but authorities believe Celeste likely died sometime in the spring of 2024. As CrimeOnline noted, the death is being treated as a homicide, even though D4vd has not been officially named a suspect in public statements.
The legal proceedings have been equally complex. Initial reports suggested the grand jury convened in Los Angeles was an "investigative" panel—one that can subpoena documents and compel witness testimony but not issue indictments. However, sources later clarified to TMZ and Reel360 that the grand jury now has full authority to indict and is actively considering criminal charges. Prosecutors, including District Deputy Attorney Beth Silverman, are said to believe that D4vd is culpable in Celeste’s death. According to TMZ, "authorities—including prosecutor Beth Silverman—believe D4vd was involved in the death of Rivas."
Key testimony has already been heard. D4vd’s day-to-day manager, Robert Morgenroth, spent several days before the grand jury and was reportedly grilled about why he did not immediately contact police after learning of Celeste’s disappearance. According to a TMZ reporter who overheard a conversation in a courthouse hallway, Morgenroth described prosecutor Silverman as "very pushy" in her questioning. Morgenroth allegedly replied that it was not his responsibility to contact law enforcement, stating, "my job was to make sure D4vd’s tour kept going." The testimony offered a rare glimpse into the inner workings of D4vd’s team during the period when the investigation was heating up.
As the grand jury proceedings continue, the case remains tightly sealed. Court records have been locked down, and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has not commented publicly on the status of the grand jury or any potential indictment. According to The Post, "the case has not been presented to the office" as of late December, though multiple sources expect the grand jury to be formally asked to return an indictment in the coming weeks. Additional witnesses may be called as soon as February 2026, further delaying any final decision on charges. As one TMZ report put it, "don’t expect a quick indictment."
For D4vd, the investigation has already had a profound impact on his career. Initially cooperative with police, the singer reportedly changed his posture as the probe intensified, canceling tour dates and retreating from public view. His rise to fame had been meteoric, built on a foundation of viral TikTok hits and innovative music production for Fortnite montage videos—a testament to the unpredictable ways in which social media can launch new stars. Now, however, his future hangs in the balance as the legal process grinds forward.
The case has captivated the public for a host of reasons: the involvement of a young celebrity, the tragic fate of a teenage girl, and the labyrinthine legal maneuvers playing out behind closed doors. The presence of a burn cage, the discovery of farm tools, and the sealed court records have only deepened the sense of mystery and unease. Meanwhile, the family of Celeste Rivas and her supporters continue to seek answers and justice, even as the official cause of death remains unknown.
With the grand jury expected to continue hearing evidence into February 2026, the story is far from over. For now, all eyes remain on the Los Angeles courts, where the fate of D4vd—and the quest for justice for Celeste Rivas—will ultimately be decided.
