The body of a girl that was found in the trunk of an impounded Tesla on Sept. 8, which is registered to popular singer D4vd, has been identified by authorities.
Authorities in Los Angeles have identified the body of a teenage girl discovered earlier this month in the trunk of a Tesla registered to rising music star D4vd. The case has gripped national headlines, intertwining a homicide investigation with the fast-rising career of one of today’s most-streamed indie artists.
The victim has been identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose remains were found on September 8 inside a plastic bag in the car’s front trunk compartment. Investigators said they confirmed her identity through forensic analysis after initially noting distinct physical features, including black wavy hair and a tattoo on her finger reading “Shhhh.” Rivas’ cause of death has not yet been released, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office is continuing its work to determine how she died.
The Austin-born singer-songwriter known as D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke), whose debut explosion onto the music scene came through viral TikTok hits such as “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me”, has not been named a suspect. However, police confirmed the Tesla where Rivas’ body was found is registered in his name in Hempstead, Texas. The 20-year-old’s representatives previously emphasized that he is fully cooperating with investigators.
The Tesla was first reported abandoned in early September near Bluebird Avenue and Doheny Drive in the Hollywood Hills. Towed to Hollywood Tow yard days later, the car sat unclaimed until employees noticed a foul odor emanating from the front trunk area. Around 12:30 p.m. on September 8, LAPD officers were called to the scene. Inside, wrapped in a plastic bag, they found a dismembered body that would later be matched to Rivas.
At the time of discovery, the vehicle had Texas license plates and had not been reported stolen. Police said there was no immediate evidence explaining why the car had been abandoned in Los Angeles or whether it had any connection to the singer himself, who has spent recent weeks performing as part of his ongoing Withered World Tour.
The shocking revelation added a painful twist for Rivas’ family. Her mother told TMZ that her daughter had been missing since April 2024 and raised suspicions about the fact that the Tesla was connected to Burke. According to her, Celeste had once been romantically involved with someone named David, making the overlapping detail unsettling. Nevertheless, authorities have not shared any evidence linking the artist personally to the crime.
The detail about the victim’s relationship adds a layer of complexity to an already puzzling case. Investigators have not publicly identified any suspects, and they are handling the case as a homicide.
While Burke has not issued a public statement himself, the fallout has already affected his career. After news of Rivas’ identity was confirmed, TMZ reported that D4vd canceled his scheduled Seattle performance at Showbox SoDo on September 17. The show, part of his high-profile world tour, had still been listed on the venue’s website just hours before.
Earlier this month, in the days immediately following the discovery of the body, the artist went on to perform at a Minneapolis stop, even treating fans to collectible toy giveaways. The decision drew mixed reactions online, with some supporters praising his commitment to fans and critics questioning the propriety given the ongoing investigation.
Strikingly, the Tesla discovery was followed just a day later by another gruesome find. In a separate tow yard in South Los Angeles, investigators located the burned body of another woman inside the trunk of a Honda Civic. Her family, who had earlier reported her missing, reportedly traced her to the impounded vehicle. Authorities have clarified that they do not believe the two cases are connected.
As of now, many questions remain unanswered. Why was Rivas’ body inside a car bearing the registration of a chart-topping artist? How long had the Tesla been abandoned before being towed? And who was responsible for her death?
Law enforcement continues to treat the matter with urgency, but without a determined cause of death or suspect named, the case stands as a troubling mystery where the tragic fate of a missing teenage girl intersects with the life of one of music’s most recognizable new voices. For both the victim’s grieving family and a stunned fan base, resolution can’t come soon enough.
What links D4vd to the area?
TMZ reported that Google Maps info stated D4vd was in Lake Elsinore, which is in Riverside County – 70 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The publication, citing the map, further said D4vd was 0.3 miles from where Rivas was living with her family, before her disappearance in 2024.
The spot where D4vd was standing was about 6 minutes walking distance from her place, TMZ added. HT.com has been unable to independently verify this information.
The body found in a towed Tesla registered to singer D4vd has been identified as a 15-year-old girl, according to officials.
— ABC News (@ABC) September 17, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/17YmaLD0Nh pic.twitter.com/QJDM1L2SBb
What’s the latest in the case
Cops have not yet listed D4vd as a suspect, who canceled his show in Seattle. TMZ reported he’s likely flown to Los Angeles.
D4vd’s car was parked on a street in Hollywood Hills, from where it was towed. In the yard, workers complained of a foul smell and called authorities, at which time the gruesome discovery was made. Meanwhile, cops have a strategy in place to try and identify the person who drove the car.
They are speaking to neighbors to try and get footage and see if the person driving the car is visible or not. Cops are not just seeking footage of the main road, but also of alleyways nearby. They suspect the person might have made use of these alleys, but the publication did not share if the cops have found anything noteworthy while looking down that avenue.
Tattoo Link
Rivas’s mother told TMZ that her daughter had a boyfriend named David, matching the singer’s real name, and highlighted that both had a similar“Shhh” tattoo on their right index fingers. Authorities said that the tattoo is common and has been popularized by other celebrities.
The singer was scheduled to perform at Showbox SoDo in Seattle but abruptly cancelled his concert following the discovery of the teen’s body. Police have not disclosed who was driving the Tesla when it was abandoned, and the vehicle was not reported stolen.
D4vd has reportedly not been in Los Angeles for over a month and has not publicly commented on the case.
Impact on D4vd and His Tour
The discovery has already impacted D4vd’s career. He cancelled his Seattle concert at Showbox SoDo shortly after the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed Celeste’s identity. The LAPD is treating the case as murder. But the exact cause of death remains “deferred.” Police also clarified that while the Tesla was registered to D4vd. It was not reported stolen, and they are still working to determine who was driving it before it was abandoned on September 8.
Links Between D4vd and Celeste Rivas Surface
On Wednesday, TMZ published exclusive photos that link the death of Celeste Rivas and rapper D4vd. The photos show D4du in the area where Celeste Rivas disappeared, in Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California.
David Anthony Burke, the real name of D4vd, was seen interacting with a man in one of the photos published by TMZ. TMZ reported that D4vd was less than a mile from the area where Celeste Rivas lived with her family, just days before she disappeared.
Additionally, it was reported that the victim had the same tattoo as D4vd on her leg, saying “Shh…” Rivas’ mother identified her from the tattoo.
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