By Kiera Tempel, Staff Writer
!CONTENT WARNING! – This story discusses the ongoing investigation into the homicide of a teenage girl. Related topics to the case, such as pedophilia and references to self-harm and dismemberment, are present in this story.
We’ve all heard songs that make us feel something real, but few do it quite like the musician/artist known professionally as d4vd. Recently, it’s come into question just how real d4vd’s songs actually are, after authorities discovered the body of a young girl named Celeste Rivas Hernández in the front trunk of the artist’s car. I’m sure most people online have heard something about the Celeste case by now, but between rumors, theories, and real evidence, it’s hard to know what’s actually true.
Celeste Rivas Hernández was only 14-years-old when her life was tragically ended in 2025, leaving behind a family and an online community heartbroken with unanswered questions. First missing in April of 2024, Celeste was a 13-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California. She was known in her community as a vibrant person, usually seen visiting the local corner store with her friends. However, despite how she presented herself, Celeste often faced challenges at home, leading her to run away multiple times.
Just in 2024, she was reported missing three more times, with authorities needing to intervene on several occasions due to concerns for her well-being.14 It’s believed that Celeste’s repeated disappearances highlighted underlying issues at home, although specific details have never been made public.
In early September of 2025, Celeste was reported missing once again, except this time, she wasn’t coming back. Her body was discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to singer/songwriter David Anthony Burke (widely known by his stage-name, “d4vd”) on September 8, 2025, in Hollywood, California. Known for his viral songs and emotionally charged lyrics, d4vd suddenly found himself at the center of the case, with fans and the general public questioning whether the lyrics in his music and scenes in his music videos might reflect real-life events tied to Celeste.
The Facts
Here’s what we know for sure about the Celeste Rivas Hernández case. There’s currently no evidence that singer d4vd was driving the Tesla that her body was found in; the car was registered under his name, but authorities haven’t confirmed who was behind the wheel. The vehicle had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills area and eventually towed to an impound lot after being ticketed on August 27 and September 3 for violating the 72-hour parking rule. On September 8, a worker at the lot noticed a foul odor, eventually leading to the grim discovery of Celeste’s remains. California authorities have said that her body was decomposed and dismembered, with only her head and torso being found.16 With her cause of death being listed as “deferred” by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, further testing is needed before being able to rule a specific time of death.15
The case is officially a homicide, currently being investigated by the LAPD and private investigators. However, no arrests have been made. Police have stated there’s “not enough evidence” to name a suspect, and d4vd has “been seen cooperating with authorities,” says a spokesperson for the singer.17 The LAPD searched his $20k/month Hollywood Hills mansion on September 18, seizing items including a computer. Amid the investigation, he canceled the remainder of his 2025 tour13 and transferred his Texas properties to his mother. Major industry partners like Crocs and Hollister paused promotions with him, and artists such as Kali Uchis and Laufey removed their collaborative songs with him from all streaming platforms.12
Celeste’s mother said her daughter had been seeing a guy named “David,” and multiple pieces of evidence suggest this was d4vd, indicating a romantic connection between them. D4vd also has an unreleased song titled “Celeste,” which was removed from streaming platforms after the discovery.
There has been a significant amount of photographic evidence showing d4vd and Celeste together, which has fueled both public attention and investigative interest. These images, captured from social media posts, fan interactions, and some private sources, show the two in close proximity. Some photos even highlight a striking detail; both Celeste and d4vd share a tattoo on their right index finger reading “Shhh…,” which played a key role in identifying her remains.2 While these images don’t prove wrongdoing on their own, they establish a verifiable connection between d4vd and Celeste, supporting the broader context of the investigation and giving authorities and the public tangible evidence of their relationship.
The Rumors
A lot of misinformation and rumors have also spread because of social media, such as a circulating idea that her age was 15 years when she died. Celeste’s body was discovered on September 8, 2025, the day after what would have been her 15th birthday. It’s been publicly stated that the body had been decomposing for about two weeks, so she unfortunately died when she was 14, not 15.
There is also confusion around the fact that there are two separate women named Celeste involved in d4vd’s life, with people online mixing the two up, or even believing d4vd associated with the other Celeste on purpose as some sort of “alibi” or decoy. Celeste Rivas Hernández and Celeste Herrera are two different people. Celeste Hernández was the 14-year-old romantically involved with singer d4vd, reported missing multiple times, and found deceased. Celeste Herrera is a 23-year-old who frequently interacted with d4vd on social media, but ultimately has no connection to the current case.6
There was also talk of Celeste Hernández being pregnant, with some rumors circulating that this was the reason d4vd allegedly killed her.11 Her pregnancy was proven to be untrue: “Celeste Hernández was not pregnant at the time of her death and had not been pregnant in the past year,” confirmed the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office in an autopsy report.
While some people also believed Celeste Hernández had fake IDs and posed as an older 19-year-old in social settings, no law enforcement or documented proof have confirmed any use of a fake ID. Some online claims suggest that d4vd may have paid off Celeste’s friends to stay quiet about their relationship, but there is no confirmed evidence to support this.
Separately, Celeste was reportedly part of d4vd’s Discord server, and screenshots have circulated showing conversations where two users discuss him dating someone named “Celeste.” These messages have been widely shared online, though their authenticity cannot be officially confirmed. There are also screenshots allegedly from Celeste herself discussing a sexual encounter with d4vd. In these messages, “Celeste” speaks about her first time with d4vd to a friend, who seems to be worried and concerned about her relationship with “david,” stating, “are u still gna talk to david? or go back with him bc i dont want u to get into anymore trouble with him.”1 While these messages appear in online discussions, none of them have been officially verified by authorities, and it’s unclear how they fit into the investigation.
A resurfaced Twitch livestream from January 2024 has also added a seriously unsettling layer to the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case; in the video, d4vd is seen interacting with a girl who looks eerily similar to Celeste.9 It blew up even further online after he reportedly had it taken down, which only made people more curious about what was in it.
The Music
So, what about his music is suspicious? Well, there have been speculations that some of d4vd’s music was released on Celeste’s birthday, September 7th, but those are mostly wrong.10 The song “Romantic Homicide“ was released on July 20, 2022, while the official music video was uploaded to YouTube on September 7, 2022. The Lost Petals EP, which includes the song “Rehab,” was released on September 8, 2023, not on September 7 as claimed in some online posts. D4vd announced his unreleased album, Withered Deluxe: Marcescence, on social media on September 7, 2025, though the full album was subsequently scheduled for a later date and was ultimately postponed due to his investigation.
The lyrics in some of his songs and scenes portrayed in his music videos are quite alarming, however. In the popular song “Romantic Homicide,” he sings lyrics such as “In the back of my mind, I killed you / I can’t believe I said it / But it’s true.” The song also includes violent/graphic imagery in its video (blood, a white rose, etc.), and fans have pointed out that the lead actress in the video looks similar to Celeste.3
From the unreleased demo “Celeste,” there are lyrics that directly name “Celeste,” as well as references to tattoos, obsession, and intimacy: “Oh, Celeste / The girl with my name tattooed on her chest / I’m obsessed / Missing you so much makes me depressed.”5, 7 In the song “Notes from a Wrist,” some social media users have interpreted the lyrics “Run away from home / All in the name of love / Run into my loving arms / I’m carving these notes into bloody arms” to suggest that he may have been pushing for someone to leave home and run away with him.8 Additionally, his song “L4F/L4L” features lines like “I don’t care about the law when I’m with you / Cause I be breaking it all the time.” Some leaked/unreleased track intros are rumored to include voicemails or snippets that might contain Celeste’s voice, but nothing has been confirmed.
The video for “One More Dance” is also a very suspicious one. There’s a scene where a figure resembling Celeste appears as d4vd is carrying her body into a car trunk. The animated video for his song “Remember Me” also features a female character with long, dark hair, and a solemn expression identical to Celeste’s.4 Another unreleased song, “Confession,” mentions lyrics like “Nobody ever caught me / But I’ve spoken too soon / In the back of a police car / I forgot whatever I knew / I ain’t telling nothing / Do the same if they ask you / About her,” which definitely raises suspicion on the reality of his music.
The End for Now
The case of Celeste Rivas Hernández remains under active investigation by the LAPD. Authorities have collected evidence from the Tesla, d4vd’s Hollywood residence, and other locations, but no arrests have been made and the official cause of death is still “deferred.” Social media has amplified the story, spreading both facts and speculation, making it crucial to remember not to believe everything you see online.
There is definitely tangible evidence connecting d4vd to the case, from his vehicle registration and seized items to personal connections with Celeste and matching tattoos, that cannot be ignored. Many have pointed out that while d4vd has not been named a suspect in her homicide currently, it is still problematic to support him, as he at least seemed to be romantically involved with a minor.
While her case and story are still at large, her body has been put to rest at Queen of Heaven Cemetery and Mortuary in Rowland Heights, California, leaving a tragic reminder that life is too short and to be cautious of who you trust. The case is still unfolding, and while many details are known, much remains unconfirmed, leaving the public watching closely as the investigation continues.
| TIMELINE | |
| Early 2024 | Celeste runs away from home multiple times. Authorities and her family locate her and return her home. |
| April 5, 2024 | Celeste is reported missing by her family. |
| May, 2024 | Celeste goes missing again briefly; authorities find her and return her safely to her family. |
| August 27, 2025 | A Tesla registered to David “d4vd” Burke is ticketed in Hollywood Hills for violating the 72-hour parking rule. |
| Early September 2025 | Celeste is reported missing again. |
| September 3, 2025 | Tesla receives another parking ticket in the same neighborhood. |
| September 5, 2025 | The Tesla is towed to a Hollywood Tow yard. |
| September 8, 2025 | Decomposed remains of Celeste (only head and torso) are discovered in the front trunk of the Tesla.Authorities report she had been deceased for several weeks.Her remains were wrapped in plastic. |
| September 16, 2025 | Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identifies the remains as those of Celeste Rivas Hernández.Cause of death is listed as “deferred,” meaning further testing is required. |
| September 18, 2025 | LAPD executes a search warrant at d4vd’s Hollywood Hills residence.Evidence, including a computer, is seized. |
| October 6, 2025 | Celeste is laid to rest at Queen of Heaven Cemetery and Mortuary in Rowland Heights, California. |
Sources
1 Shukla, Piyush. “Resurfaced Discord chats expose disturbing link between singer D4vd and teen Celeste Rivas, whose body was found in his Tesla — investigation deepens amid public outcry,” The Economic Times. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
2 “Celeste Rivas: New details about teen girl’s body found in D4vd’s Tesla revealed,” Fox 11 Los Angeles, 17 Sept. 2025. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
3 Roy, Madhurima. “How old was D4vd when he made Romantic Homicide? Music video similarities with Celeste surface, spark disbelief online,” Primetimer, 18 Sept. 2025. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
4 McBride, Jessica. “D4vd Music Video Has ‘Scary’ Similarity to Celeste Rivas Death,” Men’s Journal, 23 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
5 “LEAKED SONG ABOUT CELESTE … Same Name As Dead Girl,” TMZ, 17 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
6 Roy, Shayari. “Viral “2 Celestes?” internet theory amidst D4vd’s ongoing investigation into 15-year-old girl’s death explained,” Sportskeeda, 21 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
7 Tolaj, Orgesta. “Leaked Song “Celeste” by D4vd Raises Chilling Parallels to Teen Found Dead in His Tesla,” The Hyper Hive, 22 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
8 Kumari, Sneha. “‘Run away from…’: Was D4vd hinting at Celeste Rivas’ troubled home in his song ‘Notes from a Wrist’? Lyrics spark confession theories,” India Times, 24 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
9” “Celeste Rivas case deepens as D4vd linked to conspiracy theories after livestream clip resurfaces,” The Express Tribune, 21 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
10 Adeyoola, Oreoluwa. “Debunked: All the wild rumours about D4vd that just aren’t true – and what actually is” The Tab, Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
11 “Deputies visited home of Celeste Rivas Hernandez multiple times over several years, records show,” ABC7, 2 Oct. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
12 Strauss, Matthew. “D4vd Cancels Tour After Investigators Identify Body in Tesla Registered to Him as Missing Teenage Girl,” Pitchfork, 19 September, 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
13 “D4VD U.S. TOUR CANCELED … In Wake Of Homicide Investigation,” TMZ, 19 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
14 Acosta, Nicole. “Celeste Rivas Hernandez Went Missing 3 Times in 2024 — and Police Seized Electronics from Home Tied to d4vd: Report,” People, 25 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
15 “CELESTE RIVAS HERNANDEZ,” County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner, Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
16 Stone, Alex and Meredith Deliso. “Body found in D4vd’s Tesla: Teen’s cause and manner of death still undetermined,” ABC News, 29 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
17 Acosta, Nicole. “Police Search Home Associated with d4vd While Investigating Missing Teen’s Body Found in His Tesla: Reports,” People, 19 Sept. 2025. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
