On Sept. 8, 2025, police responded to an impound lot in Hollywood after employees reported a foul odor coming from a Tesla.

The vehicle was registered to 20-year-old David Anthony Burke, professionally known as d4vd, a singer best known for his single “Romantic Homicide,” which gained popularity on TikTok.

Prior to the vehicle being towed to the impound lot, the vehicle had been abandoned for five days.

The police conducted a vehicle search, and discovered a body in the front trunk. The body was decomposing, suggesting that the remains had been there for some time.

The remains were identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, who had been reported missing from the Lake Elsinore area on April 5, 2024. On Sept. 17, the LAPD served a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills home where d4vd had been staying in connection with the teenager’s death.

During the search, the police found several items of evidence that will be analyzed by detectives. The investigation is ongoing and investigators are following multiple leads.

Although the events indicate a potential connection between Burke and Rivas, the LAPD has not named a person of interest .
The case has become a hot topic on social media, with online users talking about the case and sharing their views.

Jules Hutson, a sophomore computer science student, expressed his opinions on social media being involved with the case.
“Social media is harmful and helpful but more so harmful. Certain things don’t need to be seen or said, and social media always finds a way to bring unnecessary information to people,” he says.

“It’s helpful because it brings things to light. I personally wouldn’t have known of the d4vd situation if it wasn’t for [social] media.. It’s a gift and a curse,” Hutson said.

In addition to Rivas’ remains being found in Burke’s vehicle, the medical examiner noted a tattoo on her right index finger that read “Shhh”. Photos showed that Burke has a matching tattoo.

Rivas’ mother told reporters that her daughter was dating someone named “David,” though she had never met him.

Leah Britton, a senior liberal studies student, said her opinion shifted as more information on the case surfaced.

“I learned about the d4vd case through TikTok. (At) first, I didn’t think he did it just because they were relating it to the song and that could’ve just been a (coincidence),” Britton said.

“It was coming out that his car was stolen, so he didn’t even know about it. As more evidence came out, I was like, it’s a lot of concrete evidence and pictures…I definitely think he did it,” she says.

A leaked d4vd song has caught attention on social media, where people are analyzing the lyrics. In it, he sings:

“Oh, Celeste / The girl with my name tattooed on her chest… / I’m obsessed… Oh, Celeste… / Missing you so much makes me depressed / But I digress” 

Aliya Kirkpatrick, a junior automotive engineering student, said the lyrics were enough to make her question D4vd’s innocence.

“The lyrics are actually crazy. What do you mean ‘Afraid you’ll only love me when undressed’,‘I’m obsessed…oh Celeste’ that man committed the crime,” she said. 

“No one in their (right) mind would have lyrics like these and call it “metaphorically”. His lyrics relate to the case. That girl was a child and he’s describing her like this… stuff isn’t adding up” Kirkpatrick says.

Celeste Rivas’ cause of death has not  been determined. The LA Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the investigation.

Matthew Rivas, Celeste’s brother, said the family is struggling to cope with her death.

“I’m just trying to stay positive. I’m just trying to move forward,” he said in an interview. “My mom’s grieving really bad. My dad’s grieving really bad,” Rivas told NBC reporters.

As of Oct. 2, no arrests have been made and the investigation is still ongoing.