When the dismembered body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, the internet didn’t just react—it erupted. The discovery, made at a Los Angeles tow yard on September 8, 2025, came more than two weeks after her death, and just one day after what should have been her 16th birthday. Authorities hadn’t yet determined cause or manner of death, but the location of the vehicle—linked to a rising pop star with a dark, aesthetic-driven music catalog—turned a tragic missing persons case into a viral media storm. And here’s the thing: no charges have been filed. But the court of public opinion? It’s already sentenced him.
The Discovery and the Search Warrant
Celeste, a middle schooler from Lake Elsinore, had been reported missing by her family on March 19, 2024, after she ran away for the third time that year. Call logs show her mother dialed the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at 7:57 a.m. that day. Deputies returned a week later for a follow-up, but no active search was launched. Surveillance footage, later shared with the family, showed a girl matching Celeste’s description walking toward a dark vehicle outside the frame—a detail that, in hindsight, feels like a chilling prelude. Then, on September 17, 2025, LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division executed a search warrant at Burke’s Hollywood Hills home. They seized computers, storage drives, and multiple bags of evidence. According to law enforcement sources cited by the Los Angeles Times, investigators also obtained photos and videos showing Celeste and D4vd together. The timing is critical: Burke was nearly 19 in 2024, when Celeste was just 13. That age gap, combined with the nature of their alleged interactions, has fueled outrage online. Yet as legal analyst Brian Buckmire explained on Good Morning America, "Law enforcement does not yet have enough evidence to confront him, particularly without an autopsy report establishing cause and manner of death."The Music That Became Evidence
D4vd’s art has always walked the line between performance and provocation. But now, his lyrics and visuals are being treated like crime scene photos. His breakout hit, "Romantic Homicide," isn’t just a song—it’s become a haunting artifact. Then there’s the music video for "One More Dance," released in February 2025, which shows a blindfolded D4vd in a bloodied shirt as two figures drag a body into a car trunk. The video, once interpreted as surreal performance art, now reads like a chilling reenactment. Even more unsettling: a leaked demo titled "Celeste," dating back two years, surfaced online shortly after her body was found. Fans noticed something else—both Celeste and D4vd had matching finger tattoos reading "Shhh." That detail alone sent social media into a frenzy. One Reddit user even claimed to have identified their exact location from an Instagram story she posted, pinpointing it to a parking lot near his studio. Was it coincidence? Or confirmation? And then there’s the casket. Months before Celeste’s body was discovered, D4vd used a real casket as a prop during a live show. He didn’t explain it. He didn’t need to. His aesthetic thrived on ambiguity. But now, every artistic choice feels like a clue.The Internet’s Verdict—Before the Police
The real story here isn’t just the investigation. It’s what happened while it was still unfolding. A Reddit community once devoted to D4vd—once moderated solely by him—turned into a digital courtroom. Tens of thousands logged in daily. Posts were deleted. Threads vanished. When the subreddit was locked, users accused Burke of silencing dissent. A Discord admin, whose identity remains unclear, claimed they "had minimal contact with David or his management" and were unaware of Celeste’s age or status as a missing person. It’s a flimsy defense, but it’s all they’ve got. A TikTok comment from February 25, 2024—"waiting for LAPD to get your a-- for messing with a 13 year old girl"—was unearthed and went viral. The user’s identity? Unknown. But the timing? Too precise to ignore. Meanwhile, rumors of hush money, pregnancy claims, and secret messages between D4vd’s crew and underage girls circulated without verification. The New Statesman reported unverified screenshots suggesting Celeste was pregnant. The Montclarion noted that ex-fans had unearthed Discord chats with disturbing references to "young girls." None have been confirmed. But in the court of public opinion, proof doesn’t matter. Emotion does.
The Fallout: Cancelled Tours and Dropped Brands
The consequences were swift. D4vd canceled the remainder of his "Withered" world tour—both U.S. and international dates. Within days, Crocs and Hollister pulled out of their "Dream Drop" collaboration, in which he was slated to be the face. His record label, still silent, has not issued a statement. His social media accounts, once buzzing with fan art and tour merch, now sit dormant. Celeste’s family, meanwhile, received her remains in early October 2025. Her mother told investigators Celeste had been deeply upset by the flood of online speculation, the fliers posted around town, the news cycles that turned her disappearance into a spectacle. She didn’t want to be famous. She just wanted to be safe.What Happens Next?
The LAPD has not released an official timeline. Chief Jim McDonnell, in a rare on-camera interview with ABC7 on October 3, 2025, said he couldn’t share details "due to the sensitivity and ongoing nature of the investigation." That’s standard. But in an age where algorithms prioritize outrage over evidence, silence is often read as guilt. What’s clear is this: the case has exposed how quickly art, identity, and digital obsession can blur into criminal suspicion. D4vd’s music didn’t cause this tragedy. But in the absence of facts, his art became a mirror—and people didn’t like what they saw.
Background: A Pattern of Digital Obsession
This isn’t the first time a musician’s aesthetic has been weaponized in a criminal investigation. In 2017, fans of rapper XXXTentacion scrutinized his lyrics and social media posts after his murder, drawing parallels to his violent imagery. In 2020, a viral TikTok trend tied to a missing teen led to a wrongful accusation against a YouTuber—later debunked by police. But those cases lacked the visceral, intimate connection between victim and suspect that this one has. Celeste didn’t just appear in photos. She was seen in livestreams. She was tagged in DMs. She wore jewelry that looked like gifts. Her disappearance wasn’t just reported—it was documented, pixel by pixel, by strangers who thought they knew her. And now, her family must live with the fact that the world saw her not as a child, but as a plot point in someone else’s story.Frequently Asked Questions
Has D4vd been charged in connection with Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death?
No, as of October 2025, David Anthony Burke (D4vd) has not been charged. Authorities have not determined cause or manner of death, and while evidence was seized from his home, no public indictment has been filed. Legal experts say without an autopsy confirming foul play or forensic links tying him directly to the death, charges are unlikely in the near term.
Why did internet sleuths focus so intensely on D4vd’s music and tattoos?
The matching "Shhh" tattoos on both Celeste and D4vd, combined with his song "Romantic Homicide" and the "One More Dance" music video depicting a body being loaded into a trunk, created a pattern that online investigators interpreted as confirmation of guilt. Even unverified details—like a leaked demo titled "Celeste"—were treated as evidence. The human brain seeks narrative, and in the absence of official facts, fans filled the void with theories.
What role did social media play in this case?
Social media turned a local missing persons case into a global spectacle. Reddit threads with tens of thousands of users dissected every photo and livestream. TikTok videos analyzing D4vd’s past behavior amassed millions of views. Celeste’s family said the constant speculation and public shaming made her emotional distress worse during her final months. The line between justice and mob mentality blurred completely.
How did Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s family respond to the media attention?
According to investigators, Celeste’s mother told officials she was deeply upset by the flood of online speculation, the fliers posted around town, and the way her daughter’s disappearances were turned into viral content. After Celeste’s body was found, the family requested privacy. They received her remains in early October 2025 and have not made any public statements since.
Is there any evidence that D4vd had a romantic relationship with Celeste?
No confirmed evidence exists. While photos and livestream footage show them together, and rumors of hush payments and private messages circulate online, law enforcement has not verified any romantic or sexual relationship. The age difference—D4vd was nearly 19 when Celeste was 13—raises serious legal questions regardless of intent, but without direct proof of contact or coercion, investigators remain cautious.
What impact has this case had on how artists’ online personas are viewed?
This case has shifted the conversation. Artists who use dark, violent, or transgressive imagery in their work now face new scrutiny—not just as performers, but as potential suspects. Fans no longer separate art from artist. When D4vd’s casket prop or his "Romantic Homicide" lyrics resurfaced, they weren’t analyzed as creative expression—they were treated as confessions. The line between performance and reality has never been thinner.