Grisly Details Revealed on How Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Remains Were Found, as D4vd Is ‘Target’ of Probe

Rising alt-pop artist D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, has been officially identified as the primary target of a Los Angeles County grand jury investigation into the death and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

Newly unsealed court documents, obtained following a legal battle in Texas, reveal that prosecutors are investigating the 20-year-old singer for one count of murder. The investigation stems from the September 8, 2025, discovery of Hernandez’s decomposed remains inside a Tesla Model Y registered to Burke, which had been impounded in the Hollywood Hills.

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Discovery at the Hollywood Impound Lot

The case began on September 5, 2025, when a black Tesla registered to Burke was towed from Bluebird Street in the Hollywood Hills for a 72-hour parking violation. Three days later, the manager of the impound lot contacted the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to report a “strong smell of decay” and an unusual amount of insect activity surrounding the vehicle.

According to the petition for attendance of out-of-state witnesses, responding detectives immediately identified the odor as consistent with a decomposing corpse. Upon executing a search warrant, investigators discovered two black cadaver bags in the vehicle’s front storage compartment, or “frunk.”

The petition details a gruesome scene:

• Initial Discovery: Detectives unzipped the first bag to find a decomposed head and torso.
• Mutilation: Further examination by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner revealed the victim’s arms and legs had been severed.
• Second Bag: The dismembered limbs were located in a second black bag positioned underneath the first.

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Links Between the Artist and the Victim

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a middle-schooler from Lake Elsinore, California, had been reported missing by her family in 2024. Despite her disappearance, digital evidence and surveillance footage suggested she was alive as late as January 2025.

Investigators have since uncovered significant links between the teenager and the singer. Hernandez’s family alleged that the teen had a boyfriend named “David” and that the two shared matching tattoos. Furthermore, an unreleased song by Burke reportedly referenced “Celeste” in its lyrics and working title.

While the Medical Examiner identified the remains on September 16, 2025—just one day after what would have been Hernandez’s 15th birthday—the exact cause of death remains under a court-ordered security hold. Investigators believe the death likely occurred in the spring of 2025.

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Grand Jury and Legal Maneuvers

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office began presenting evidence to a grand jury in November. The recent unsealing of documents occurred after a Texas court ordered Burke’s parents, Dawud and Colleen Burke, and his brother to testify in California.

While Burke has not been formally charged, the DA’s office stated in the petition that the “target may be involved in the death of 14-year-old victim Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who may have been a victim of foul play.”

Career Fallout and Investigation Status

At the time of the discovery, D4vd was in the middle of his “Withered” world tour. He initially continued performing but eventually canceled all remaining North American and European dates as news of the investigation broke. Major brand partners, including Crocs and Hollister, have since scrubbed promotional content featuring the artist.

The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division continues to analyze evidence seized during a raid on a Hollywood Hills property previously occupied by Burke. Detectives are also investigating a spring 2025 trip the singer took to Santa Barbara County as they work to reconstruct the timeline of Hernandez’s final days.

Burke has retained high-profile criminal defense attorney Blair Berk. While a representative previously stated Burke was “fully cooperating,” LAPD sources have since suggested the artist has been less than forthcoming with investigators.