What Investigators Said: Why Is D4vd Linked to the Celeste Rivas Case?

What investigators said about singer D4vd and the death of teenager Celeste Rivas has turned a disturbing missing-person story into a full criminal probe. Law enforcement sources now say the artist is being treated as a suspect in the death investigation, after her remains were found in a Tesla registered in his name. The case has raised urgent questions about how the 15-year-old ended up in that car and what role, if any, the singer may have played.

Detectives have not filed charges and there has been no arrest. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has identified Celeste but still lists her cause and manner of death as deferred, which means tests and analysis are ongoing. For now, authorities describe the matter as a death investigation that is being handled as a likely homicide, while stressing that the inquiry is active and incomplete.

How Investigators First Connected D4vd To The Tesla And Celeste Rivas

The investigation began when a Tesla was found abandoned on a street in the Hollywood Hills in late summer 2025. The car, which had been parked for days and cited for violating a 72 hour rule, was eventually towed to an impound lot. Workers at the tow yard later noticed a strong odor coming from the vehicle and contacted the Los Angeles Police Department on September 8.

Officers opened the front trunk and found human remains sealed in a bag. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later confirmed the victim as Celeste Rivas, a teen from Lake Elsinore who had been reported missing more than once in 2024. Records show she was officially pronounced dead on September 8, one day after what would have been her fifteenth birthday.

Investigators soon confirmed that the Tesla was registered to singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke. The car had not been reported stolen. At the time the remains were discovered, the artist was on tour and performing in Minneapolis, according to schedules and earlier coverage. This complicated the timeline and pushed detectives to look closely at when the car was last used in Los Angeles and by whom.

In the weeks that followed, detectives from the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division obtained a search warrant for a Hollywood Hills property linked to Burke. Officers removed electronic devices and other potential evidence from the home. The singer’s remaining tour dates and a planned deluxe album release were then cancelled, and several brands paused or ended partnerships as the case drew wider public attention.

Why Authorities Now See D4vd As A Suspect In The Death Investigation

Investigators and prosecutors have not laid out a full theory of the case in public. However, law enforcement sources who spoke to multiple major outlets say there are several reasons why D4vd is now considered a suspect rather than just the registered owner of the car. The first is the simple but critical link between the vehicle and the victim. The Tesla where Celeste was found belongs to him and was left on a residential street for days.

Detectives are working to establish who parked the car, who last accessed it and whether anyone else had keys or control over it. They are reviewing parking tickets, camera footage and vehicle data, along with phone records and travel information. According to sources quoted by national outlets, they believe Celeste was already dead in the car while it sat abandoned, which raises questions about when and where she died.

A second strand of the investigation focuses on the personal link between Celeste and someone named David. Her mother has told reporters that the teen spoke about a boyfriend with that name before she disappeared. Images circulated online, and discussed in media coverage, appear to show Celeste in the company of the singer, though not every image has been officially authenticated. Friends and neighbors have also suggested that she spent time in the Hollywood Hills area.

A third detail that has drawn attention is the pair’s tattoos. The medical examiner noted that Celeste had a “Shhh” style tattoo on her finger. Fans and reporters later pointed out that D4vd has a similar tattoo in the same place, a design made famous by other celebrities. This does not prove a crime, but it has added to the perception that they knew each other more closely than a casual fan and artist.

Music has also become part of the story. An unreleased demo track associated with the singer, titled “Celeste_Demo unfin,” surfaced online before the case broke. The song refers to a girl named Celeste and describes intense feelings and physical closeness. Media reports say investigators are aware of the track and are reviewing all possible digital evidence, including unreleased material, social media and messages, while avoiding any rush to judgment based only on art.

Some reports, citing police sources, say investigators believe Celeste’s body was likely dismembered and that more than one person may have been involved in handling or moving her remains. That claim has not yet been backed by a public autopsy report. Officials have been careful to say that while they suspect criminal activity, the final medical findings will be central to any prosecution decision.

What Comes Next As The Case Stays Under Investigation

For now, what investigators said publicly is limited and cautious. The LAPD has confirmed that Celeste’s remains were found in an impounded Tesla registered to the singer and that the case is being treated as a criminal investigation. Off the record, law enforcement sources have told major television networks and newsrooms that D4vd is considered a suspect in the death investigation, not just a person of interest.

The focus now is on forensics and timeline. Toxicology results, further autopsy work and analysis of digital evidence will help determine when Celeste died, whether there were drugs in her system and whether there are signs of other trauma. Detectives are also trying to map her last known movements in 2024, including who she met, where she stayed and how she might have crossed paths with the singer in Los Angeles.

At the same time, Celeste’s family has asked for privacy and justice. They have held vigils and a funeral service, and her hometown community has called for clear answers from authorities. Fans of the artist, as well as critics, are divided, with some urging patience and others demanding accountability based on the emerging details.

Until investigators share more, the only firm points are that Celeste Rivas was found dead in a car registered to D4vd, that authorities are treating the case as a suspected homicide and that he is now regarded as a suspect in the death investigation. He has not been charged, he is legally presumed innocent and the outcome will depend on facts that are still being collected and tested.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What did investigators actually say about D4vd’s status in the case?

Law enforcement sources told multiple major outlets that D4vd is now considered or identified as a suspect in the death investigation of Celeste Rivas. Official public statements remain limited and do not yet include a detailed narrative.

Q2: Why is the Tesla so important in the investigation?

The Tesla where Celeste’s remains were found is registered to the singer and was never reported stolen. It was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills, towed, then searched after a foul odor was reported. That direct link between the vehicle and the victim is central to the case.

Q3: Has the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide?

The medical examiner has identified Celeste but still lists her cause and manner of death as deferred. Police are treating the case as a likely homicide, but the final medical ruling has not been published yet.

Q4: What evidence suggests that Celeste and D4vd knew each other?

Family statements about a boyfriend named David, photos discussed in media coverage, matching finger tattoos and an unreleased demo track referencing a girl named Celeste all suggest some connection. Investigators are working to confirm exactly what that relationship was.

Q5: Has D4vd responded publicly to the latest suspect reports?

Earlier in the investigation, his team said he was cooperating with authorities. Since reports identifying him as a suspect, his legal team has taken a lower profile and has not issued a detailed public response about the new status.