Authorities in Los Angeles have identified the remains of a teenage girl found in a Tesla registered to singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd. The discovery was made in early September 2025 after the car was impounded in Hollywood following complaints about a foul smell coming from the vehicle.
Who Was Celeste Rivas? A Profile of the Missing Girl
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner stated that the remains are those of a 15-year-old Celeste Rivas. In April 2024, she went missing in Lake Elsinore, California. The disappearance of Celeste was reported to the authorities when she did not come back after the last runaway incident in May 2024. According to the law enforcement authorities, she had run away on several occasions in the past. The lake of Elsinor is some 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
The cause of death is yet to be established in the office of the medical examiner. They said that the body of Celeste was grossly deteriorated, so the body had been left in the vehicle a long time before it was found.
How the Tesla Discovery Unfolded at a Hollywood Impound
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a report on September 8, 2025, about a strong foul odour emanating from the vehicle at an impound lot in Hollywood. The Tesla had been towed from a public street after being reported abandoned for over 72 hours. Upon inspection, officers found Celeste’s decomposed remains wrapped inside a plastic covering in the front trunk compartment of the vehicle.
The medical examiner detailed that Celeste was wearing a tube top, black leggings, a yellow chain bracelet, and metal stud earrings at the time of her death. She had wavy black hair and weighed approximately 71 pounds.
The impounded Tesla registered under Singer D4vd’s name
Connection to D4vd: Ownership and the Music Star’s Response
The Tesla is registered to David Anthony Burke, a 20-year-old musician widely recognised by his stage name D4vd. Burke first gained popularity via TikTok and has since amassed over 33 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His debut album was released in April 2025, and at the time of the body’s discovery, he was engaged in his ‘Withered World Tour’. A scheduled performance at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles was set for a few days after the remains were found.
Law enforcement sources said the Tesla had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for about five days before being impounded. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the vehicle was not reported stolen. The car is one of several owned by Burke, with multiple people reportedly having access to and use of his vehicles.
Ongoing Investigation: Authorities Focus on Homicide Inquiry
The death is being treated as a homicide and the authorities are carrying on with their investigation into how Celeste was found in the car. None of the arrests have been made yet. The Robbery-Homicide Division of the Los Angeles Police Department is heading the investigation.
The representatives of Burke have stated that he is cooperating with the investigation fully. No statement on the case has been issued by Burke or his legal team, despite the media speculations and quite a lot of interest among the general population.
Family and Tattoo Clues Adding Depth to the Case
The police have not been able to get in touch with the family of Celeste and her mother affirmed that Celeste had a boyfriend named David, but nothing more. A poster of the missing person had been distributed by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, in which Celeste was 13 years old at the time she disappeared.
The report given by the medical examiner stated that Celeste had a tattoo on her right index finger, which said Shhh… This fact has attracted an audience, as it apparently resembles a tattoo belonging to the singer D4vd.
Shhh tattoo on D4vd’s index finger
Impact on D4vd’s Career Amid Investigation
The finding has affected the career of Burke, as some of the brands such as Crocs and Hollister, have been dropping endorsement deals soon after the news. Although Burke had a massive social media following and was on tour, there were immediate professional ramifications that he encountered during the investigation.
The police have stressed that the case is open. They are centred on establishing the time and the conditions that would have caused the death of the teenage girl and how her body was in the Tesla.
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What’s Next: Authorities Continue to Probe the Tragedy
This is a tragic case that has been closely inspected by the police and even more information is likely to be given as the investigation continues. The society and the media are waiting for any official news about the events of Celeste Rivas’ disappearance and death.
