Singer D4vd Named Prime Suspect in Dismemberment Death of Teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez

The dismembered remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were found inside a Tesla registered to 20-year-old R&B singer David Anthony BurkeD4vd — at a Los Angeles tow yard in September 2025. The vehicle, abandoned in the Hollywood Hills just one block from Burke’s rented home, had been impounded after neighbors reported it sitting untouched for weeks. What authorities found inside wasn’t just a crime scene — it was a horror that sent shockwaves through the music world and beyond. The case, now being led by the New York Police Department Robbery Homicide Division, has drawn global attention not just for its brutality, but for the jarring contrast between Burke’s rising fame and the grim reality of his alleged involvement.

The Discovery That Shook a City

The body was discovered on September 12, 2025, after a tow company employee noticed signs of foul play during a routine inspection. Hernandez, a student from Lake Elsinore, California, had been reported missing in June 2024 — nearly 15 months earlier. Her disappearance had faded from headlines until the Tesla’s recovery. Investigators say the remains showed signs of postmortem dismemberment, with multiple limbs and vital organs missing. Forensic teams spent days reconstructing what was left, using dental records and DNA to confirm her identity. The level of precision in the dismemberment suggested more than one person was involved — and that whoever did it had some knowledge of anatomy or surgical tools.

"You don’t just find a dismembered teen in a car and assume it’s a random act," said one law enforcement source familiar with the case, speaking on condition of anonymity. "This was intentional. Controlled. Calculated."

Why the NYPD Is Leading a California Case

The involvement of the New York Police Department Robbery Homicide Division initially confused many. But here’s the twist: Burke, despite living in California, has strong professional ties to New York. His record label, Interscope Records, is headquartered there. His manager, who investigators believe may have played a role in covering up evidence, operates out of Manhattan. The NYPD’s unit was brought in because of its experience handling high-profile celebrity-related homicides — including the 2022 case of a pop producer linked to a missing intern. Their involvement signals that authorities see this as more than a local crime; they’re treating it as a potential organized cover-up.

According to transcripts from interviews with investigators leaked to media outlets, detectives have accessed Burke’s phone records, iCloud backups, and social media activity across Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. They’re particularly focused on a mysterious 14-hour trip Burke took to a remote stretch of Santa Barbara County in March 2025 — during which he turned off his phone and was seen on surveillance footage carrying a large, wrapped object from his vehicle into the woods. No one else was seen with him.

Who Else Is Involved?

Authorities believe Burke didn’t act alone. "David most likely had help dismembering and disposing of the body," a source told reporters in early November. Investigators are now scrutinizing his manager, two touring crew members, and a woman linked to him through mutual friends who was seen near his home the night before the Tesla was reported missing. One crew member reportedly deleted all messages from a group chat on August 28, 2025 — just days before the car was towed.

Meanwhile, social media has become an unexpected investigative tool. Thousands of teens have posted cryptic messages, memes, and even fan theories using hashtags like #JusticeForCeleste and #D4vdDidIt. Some users claim to have seen Hernandez at a concert in Anaheim in May 2024 — a claim police are still verifying. Others say they noticed Burke acting "off" during livestreams in early 2025 — avoiding eye contact, speaking in short sentences, or abruptly ending streams.

The Silence of the Artist

As of November 20, 2025, David Anthony Burke has not issued a public statement. His legal team has declined to comment. His last public appearance was on October 3, 2025, at a music festival in Phoenix, where he performed a setlist that included his 2023 hit "Lullaby," a song whose lyrics now feel hauntingly ironic: "I’ll keep you safe, even when you’re gone."

His manager, whose name has not been officially released, was reportedly questioned for over 12 hours in early November. Investigators say they’re waiting on forensic results from the Tesla’s interior — including traces of blood, tissue, and cleaning agents — to determine if the car was sanitized after the crime. They’re also analyzing a 30-second audio clip from a security camera near Burke’s home, captured on June 18, 2024, that appears to show a female voice saying, "He said he’d make it disappear."

What Happens Next?

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has not yet received the case file. "The police have not presented the case to our office," an unnamed representative told reporters. That means no charges have been filed — but that could change within weeks. Prosecutors are reportedly waiting for the final forensic report from the coroner’s office, which is expected by December 1, 2025. If evidence confirms Burke’s direct involvement — or implicates others — charges could include first-degree murder, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.

Meanwhile, Hernandez’s family, who live in Lake Elsinore, have hired a private investigator and are pushing for a public memorial. "She was a dancer," her mother told a local news station in October. "She loved glitter and her dog. She didn’t deserve this silence."

Why This Case Resonates

This isn’t just another celebrity scandal. It’s a chilling reminder of how easily fame can mask darkness — and how young people, especially those online, are becoming both witnesses and investigators in real time. The case has sparked debates about mental health in the music industry, the pressure on young artists, and the ethics of fan culture. When a 14-year-old girl vanishes and her body turns up in a singer’s car — and the world watches every twist on TikTok — the line between true crime and entertainment blurs dangerously.