Nov, 20 2025
A decomposing body was discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla at an impound lot in Hollywood on September 8, 2025 — a grim discovery that would upend the life of rising pop star David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, and shatter a community in Lake Elsinore. The victim, identified on September 16, 2025, by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, was Celeste Rivas, a 15-year-old girl whose body had been concealed for at least 11 days. The car, a Tesla registered to Burke, had been towed on September 6 after being reported abandoned. Now, investigators say this isn’t just a case of a missing teen — it’s a potential homicide, and Burke is the prime suspect.
The Discovery That Shook Hollywood
Tow yard workers didn’t expect to find a corpse when they smelled something rotten coming from a parked Tesla. But on the morning of September 8, LAPD officers opened the front trunk — not the rear — and found the body of a young woman, badly decomposed, still wearing a tube top, black leggings, and a thin yellow metal bracelet. A tattoo on her right index finger read “Shhh...” — a chilling detail that would later help confirm her identity. The car had been ticketed 11 days prior, and police now believe she was dead inside the trunk the entire time. That’s not just negligence. That’s concealment.
Who Was Celeste Rivas?
Celeste Rivas lived in Lake Elsinore, a quiet city in Riverside County, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Friends described her as quiet but creative — a fan of indie music and late-night TikTok scrolls. She was 15, though some public records mistakenly listed her as 14. She had no criminal record, no known history of running away. Her disappearance on August 28, 2025, went unnoticed for days because she hadn’t missed school — she was homeschooled. Her family only reported her missing after she failed to show up for a scheduled video call with her grandmother on September 3. By then, it was too late.
D4vd: From TikTok Star to Suspect
David Anthony Burke, 20, rose to fame in 2022 with moody, bedroom-pop tracks that went viral on TikTok. By 2025, he’d released his debut album, Withered, and was touring nationally. He had 3.8 million followers. On the very day the body was found — September 8 — Burke was performing at the Fillmore Minneapolis. He didn’t know. Or maybe he did. The LAPD says he’s been “not fully cooperative.” That’s not just suspicious — it’s damning.
Investigators confirmed the Tesla was one of several vehicles Burke owned. Multiple people, including crew members and friends, reportedly had access. But the car was registered solely to him. And the timing? The body was found the same day he was on tour. The concert in Los Angeles — scheduled for September 14 — was canceled within 48 hours of the discovery. Then the entire Withered World Tour was scrapped. So was the deluxe edition of his album. The industry didn’t just pause — it ran.
The Investigation Deepens
On November 18, 2025, NBC Nightly News confirmed what investigators had been quietly building: Burke is now a suspect in a potential homicide. “Investigators believe Burke played a direct role in events leading to Rivas’ death,” said a law enforcement source. The LAPD hasn’t filed charges yet — but they’ve searched his property, seized phones, and are combing through DMs, timestamps, and location data. They’re also looking at others who may have helped hide the body. “Multiple individuals may have been involved,” said an LAPD detective. That’s code for: this wasn’t just one person’s secret. It was a network.
What’s still unclear: how Celeste got into the car. Where she was last seen. Whether she was alive when the car was parked. And why no one — not a neighbor, not a mechanic, not a friend — noticed anything odd before September 6.
Why This Matters Beyond the Headlines
This isn’t just another celebrity scandal. It’s a failure of systems. A 15-year-old girl vanished. Her family searched. Her school didn’t raise alarms. Social media didn’t help. And then — a body in a car that sat untouched for over a week, registered to a famous musician with access to security, staff, and private spaces. The fact that it took a *foul smell* to trigger a search is horrifying.
It also highlights how celebrity privilege can delay accountability. Burke wasn’t questioned until weeks after the body was found. His tour was canceled only after public pressure mounted. The LAPD didn’t name him a suspect until three months later — despite having the car’s registration and timeline from day one.
What’s Next?
Prosecutors are now reviewing digital evidence — including deleted texts, surveillance footage from nearby businesses, and phone pings from the night of August 28. A grand jury could be convened as early as January 2026. Meanwhile, Celeste’s family has hired a civil attorney and is preparing a wrongful death lawsuit against Burke and anyone else found to have aided in concealing her body.
The music world has moved on. New artists are rising. But in Lake Elsinore, a bedroom still has her posters. Her mother still leaves a plate out at dinner. And every night, someone checks the news for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did investigators link Celeste Rivas to the Tesla?
Investigators matched the victim’s physical description — including a distinctive "Shhh..." tattoo on her right index finger and jewelry — with missing persons reports. Dental records and a DNA sample from her toothbrush confirmed her identity. The Tesla’s registration was traced directly to David Anthony Burke, and cell phone data placed her near the vehicle’s last known location on August 28, just before she disappeared.
Why wasn’t the body discovered sooner?
The Tesla was parked on a residential street in Hollywood for over a week before being towed for parking violations. The trunk was locked, and the car’s sleek design made it easy to overlook. No one reported a smell until workers at the impound lot opened the trunk — which is unusual, since most impound lots don’t inspect trunks unless there’s a specific reason. The delay highlights systemic gaps in how abandoned vehicles are handled.
What role did social media play in this case?
Celeste’s last known online activity was a private TikTok DM sent to a friend on August 28, saying she was "going to see someone." The message was never delivered. Investigators recovered fragments of deleted conversations between her and an account linked to Burke’s inner circle. While D4vd’s public posts remained unchanged, his private messages showed unusual activity around the time of her disappearance — including a search for "how to clean a car after..." on a device registered to him.
Is D4vd still performing or releasing music?
No. His record label, Republic Records, severed ties in October 2025. All streaming platforms removed his music from curated playlists. His social media accounts were deactivated. He has not made a public statement since September 13, 2025, when his legal team declined to comment. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 2026.
Could others be charged in this case?
Yes. LAPD has identified at least three individuals who had access to Burke’s vehicles, including a road manager and two tour assistants. One was seen near the impound lot on September 5, the day before the car was towed. Authorities are reviewing security footage and phone records for anyone who may have helped move or conceal the body. Charges could range from accessory after the fact to obstruction of justice.
What’s being done to prevent similar cases in the future?
In response to this case, the Los Angeles City Council passed an emergency ordinance in December 2025 requiring all impound lots to conduct trunk inspections on vehicles left unattended for more than 72 hours. Additionally, California’s Department of Justice is launching a pilot program to link missing persons alerts with vehicle registration databases — so if a registered owner is flagged, law enforcement is automatically notified.