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On a September evening in Minneapolis, American singer D4vd (pronounced "David") performed his brooding TikTok hit "Romantic Homicide" to a sold-out crowd. The song, a dark meditation on breakups and regret, resonated with his young fans who had propelled him from recording music in his sister’s closet to viral stardom and a global tour. Yet, beneath the surface of this meteoric rise, a grim discovery was about to bring his career to a sudden halt. Just a day prior, Los Angeles authorities had found the decomposing body of a 15-year-old girl, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, in the front trunk of D4vd’s Tesla—a moment that would thrust the singer into a swirl of mystery, speculation, and investigation.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, had quickly become a poster child for Gen Z musicians. Raised near Houston, Texas, he was homeschooled and grew up immersed in gospel music until his early teens. His initial claim to fame was as a gamer, using popular music to soundtrack Fortnite gameplay videos on YouTube. When copyright issues forced him to create his own tracks, he began recording songs on his phone and uploading them to SoundCloud. His raw, emotionally charged music soon found an audience, and songs like "Romantic Homicide" and "Here With Me" exploded on TikTok, leading to billions of Spotify streams and a recording deal with Darkroom and Interscope Records. In 2023, he released his debut EP, "Petals and Thorns," and made his mark with performances at high-profile events like Coachella and as an opener for SZA’s SOS tour.
But in September 2024, the world that D4vd had so carefully built came crashing down. The body found in his Tesla was quickly identified as that of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a first-generation American and the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants. Celeste had been reported missing by her family multiple times since Valentine’s Day 2024, the latest instance being in April. She lived about 75 miles from Hollywood in Lake Elsinore, California, and, according to neighbors, was a familiar face in her community, often seen stopping by the corner store for candy and soda. Despite her periodic disappearances, Celeste would always return home—until this time.
The circumstances of her death remain deeply mysterious. The Los Angeles County medical examiner described Celeste’s body as "severely decomposed," indicating she had been dead for several weeks before being discovered. She was found inside a bag in the front trunk of D4vd’s Tesla, dressed in a tube top, small black leggings, and jewelry. Notably, she had a "Shhh…" tattoo on her index finger, a feature eerily similar to a tattoo the singer himself sports. The medical examiner has yet to determine the cause of death, and police have not named any suspects or persons of interest, including D4vd.
The lack of information from authorities has only fueled rampant speculation, both in the media and among internet sleuths. Every detail—such as the matching tattoos and rumors about a relationship between Celeste and D4vd—has become fodder for those seeking answers. Fans and true crime enthusiasts have scoured social media for connections, pointing to photos that appear to show the two together and to Celeste’s friends and family’s claims that she had been dating a musician named David. One of her former middle school teachers even blamed her final disappearance on her involvement with an older musician she met online.
Despite the swirling rumors, D4vd has remained silent, issuing only a statement through his spokesperson that he is "fully cooperating with authorities." He has retained Blair Berk, a high-profile criminal defense attorney who has previously represented celebrities like Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan, Kanye West, and Britney Spears. Neither D4vd nor his representatives at Universal Music Group, Darkroom Records, or Sony Music Publishing have responded to direct requests for comment. Meanwhile, his career has entered a state of limbo: his world tour was canceled, Sony suspended promotion of his new album, and major brands like Hollister and Crocs pulled him from their marketing campaigns. Even pop star Kali Uchis removed their collaborative track "
