Singer David Anthony Burke, known by his stage name d4vd, is currently under investigation following the discovery of a deceased teenage girl in a vehicle registered in his name. The case, which authorities are treating as a potential homicide, has garnered significant media attention.
The investigation began on September 8, 2024, when human remains were discovered in the trunk of a Tesla that had been abandoned and subsequently towed to a lot in West Hollywood. The vehicle had been left at a location in the Hollywood Hills a few days earlier. Employees at the tow yard alerted the police after noticing a foul odor emanating from the car. Reports indicate that the remains were “severely decomposed,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the remains as belonging to Celeste Rivas, a 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Riverside County since April 2024. Rivas had a history of running away from home prior to her disappearance. The medical examiner described her as a petite individual, standing at 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 71 pounds. Rivas was wearing a tube top, and notably, she had a tattoo on her right index finger that reads “Shhh.” This tattoo has drawn attention online, as it matches one that d4vd has, visible in recent performance photographs.
The Tesla involved in the case had Texas license plates and was officially registered to Burke. A representative for d4vd stated that the artist is cooperating with the authorities in their investigation.
Who is d4vd?
D4vd is a 20-year-old singer hailing from Houston. He gained immense popularity for tracks like “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me,” both of which have surpassed 1.5 billion streams on Spotify. His rise to fame began when he started creating original music for “Fortnite” montage videos, which he edited and uploaded to YouTube. He even released an official anthem for the game just days before Rivas’ body was discovered.
In an interview with Variety, he expressed how significant “Fortnite” has been in his life, stating, “Getting to write the ‘anthem’ for it is amazing.” Since his emergence as a streamer and content creator, d4vd has maintained a strong social media presence, accumulating over 2 million subscribers on YouTube, 2 million followers on Instagram, and 3.8 million followers on TikTok.
As news of Rivas’ death emerged, d4vd was on tour. Reports indicate that he cancelled a scheduled performance in Seattle, but as of the latest updates, he is still set to perform in San Francisco on Friday.
The ongoing investigation into Rivas’ death continues to unfold, captivating public interest and raising questions about the circumstances that led to this tragic event.