In the glittering yet unforgiving world of Hollywood, where fame often masks darker realities, the story of rising music star D4vd has unraveled into a nightmare of suspicion, tragedy, and unanswered questions. On September 8, 2025, the decomposed body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was discovered in the trunk of a black Tesla Model 3, abandoned near a luxurious Hollywood Hills residence. The vehicle, registered to David Anthony Burke—better known by his stage name D4vd—has thrust the 20-year-old singer into the center of a homicide investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. As details emerge, a chilling narrative unfolds: one of alleged grooming, secret relationships, and a young girl’s life cut short, all while D4vd’s music continued to climb the charts.

D4vd first captured the public’s attention as a YouTube creator before exploding onto the music scene in 2022. His breakout hits, “Romantic Homicide” and “Here with Me,” went viral on TikTok, amassing millions of streams and propelling him to stardom. By 2025, his debut album “Withered,” released on Darkroom and Interscope Records, had peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, with over 521 million plays on Spotify. The album’s themes of obsessive love and emotional turmoil now seem eerily prophetic in light of the events surrounding Celeste’s death. D4vd, a New York native, was in the midst of his Withered World Tour, which began on August 15, when the body was found. His representatives quickly stated that he was cooperating with authorities, but the tour’s remaining dates, including shows in Seattle and Los Angeles, were canceled, and the deluxe edition of “Withered” was shelved indefinitely.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a bright-eyed teenager from Lake Elsinore, California, dreamed of becoming a dancer. Described by her family as a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend, she vanished on April 5, 2024, at the age of 13. For over a year, her disappearance remained a cold case, with little progress until the fateful discovery at Hollywood Tow impound lot. Workers there noticed a foul odor from the Tesla’s front trunk, where Celeste’s remains were found sealed in a plastic bag. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, making it difficult to determine the exact time of death, though the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner pronounced it on September 8. The cause and manner of death were deferred, pending further investigation, but authorities are treating the case as a homicide.

The Tesla, towed from the 1300 block of Doheny Place just two days earlier, was one of several vehicles owned by D4vd and shared among his associates. It had been left blocks from his rented Hollywood Hills home, a $4.1 million property once owned by actress Halle Berry. Rented for over $20,000 a month since February 2024, the lease was in the name of D4vd’s manager, Josh Marshall. Following the body’s discovery, LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division executed a search warrant on the residence on September 17. Detectives seized electronics, computers, and other items as evidence, pursuing multiple leads in the case.

The homeowner, Mladen Trifunovic, was stunned to learn of the events unfolding in his property. He had been unaware that D4vd was living there alongside Marshall, as the lease was handled through a real estate manager. In the wake of the raid, D4vd and Marshall decided to break the lease and vacate the premises. Moving trucks were expected to arrive soon after, with Marshall already removing items from the home. Trifunovic described the situation as a profound shock, expressing his disturbance at the tragedy and his eagerness for resolution. He questioned how a young girl’s disappearance could evade so many layers of responsibility, wondering if others beyond the immediate parties might share blame.

As the investigation deepened, connections between D4vd and Celeste began to surface, painting a picture of a relationship that may have started online when she was just 12. Celeste’s mother revealed that her daughter had been seeing a man named David around the time of her disappearance. This aligned with reports of Discord messages from 2023, where Celeste, then underage, allegedly interacted intimately with D4vd in fan chatrooms. Screenshots from these exchanges showed flirtatious conversations, raising alarms about potential grooming. Further, an unreleased demo track from D4vd in 2023 repeatedly referenced “Celeste” in lyrics that echoed themes of toxic romance, adding to the speculation.

Photographic evidence compounded these concerns. Images showed D4vd in Lake Elsinore, near Celeste’s family home, just days before her disappearance on April 5, 2024. Other photos depicted the pair together, including at a bar where they wore matching black outfits, with Celeste gazing affectionately at him. They reportedly had matching tattoos—a small heart or “Shhh” on their fingers—and had even livestreamed together in January 2024, answering fan questions. Celeste’s former teacher recounted that she had met D4vd through social media and once ran away to Hollywood to be with him, only to be returned home by police months before her final vanishing.

Videos from D4vd’s August 2025 concert in Maryland circulated online, showing a girl resembling Celeste in the crowd, dressed in Hello Kitty apparel that matched descriptions of her last known outfit. While not definitively confirmed as her, the footage fueled theories that she may have attended one of his shows shortly before her death. Fan speculation on platforms like X exploded, with users dissecting timelines and evidence: the photos, tattoos, chats, and even D4vd’s lyrics as potential confessions. One particularly haunting detail was that “Romantic Homicide” was uploaded on Celeste’s birthday, September 8—the same date her body was officially pronounced dead.

Public reaction has been swift and severe. In Lake Elsinore, over 75 residents gathered for a vigil on September 21, holding candles and banners demanding justice for Celeste. Her family launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover burial costs, describing her as a sweet child stolen too soon. Her brother, Matthew, spoke of trying to stay positive amid overwhelming grief. Online, demands for accountability grew, with calls to charge not just D4vd but his entourage as accomplices. Brands associated with the singer, such as Crocs and Hollister, pulled him from campaigns, citing the ongoing investigation. Even world champion figure skater Alysa Liu changed her routine, scrapping plans to use his music in favor of something aligned with her values.

The fallout extended to D4vd’s career. Streams of his hits dipped as fans grappled with the allegations, some vowing never to listen again, citing the irreversible loss to Celeste’s family. Media figures weighed in, questioning if his artistic expressions bordered on admissions. Rumors swirled about additional details, like a possible pregnancy or involvement of a figure named “Gus” from chats, though these remain unverified. The LAPD continues to analyze seized devices and retrace Celeste’s final days, with coroner’s reports on toxicology potentially taking months to complete.

This case exposes the perilous intersection of celebrity and vulnerability in the digital age. D4vd’s rise from viral sensation to chart-topper now hangs in jeopardy, overshadowed by the tragedy of a girl whose dreams were extinguished. As of September 25, 2025, no arrests have been made, but the investigation presses on, seeking to uncover the full truth. Trifunovic’s words linger: Who else bears responsibility? In Hollywood’s shadowed hills, the music has faded, replaced by echoes of a young life lost and the urgent call for justice. For Celeste, remembered as a dancer with a bright smile, the world awaits answers that may finally bring peace.