Investigation into Death of Teen Found in Singer D4vd's Tesla
More than six months after the body of a teenage girl was discovered in an abandoned Tesla registered to him, it has emerged that the singer known as D4vd is the target of a Los Angeles County grand jury investigation.
Newly obtained court documents, including previously sealed subpoenas issued last month and acquired by the Associated Press, identify the 20-year-old artist, known for songs such as Romantic Homicide, as the target in the legal case concerning the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The documents state that the target, David Burke—the Houston-born singer’s legal name—
“may be involved in having committed the following criminal offenses against the laws of the State of California, to wit: One count of Murder”.
Although police sources had informed media outlets that Burke was identified as a suspect, authorities had not publicly named him as such prior to these documents.
Discovery of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Body
Rivas Hernandez’s body was found in the Tesla on September 8, 2025, one day after her 15th birthday. Her family had reported her missing from Lake Elsinore, California, approximately 70 miles (112 km) southeast of Los Angeles, in 2024.
According to court filings, Rivas Hernandez was 14 years old at the time of her death. The Tesla in which her body was found was registered to Burke at an address belonging to his family members, who have been subpoenaed in connection with the case. Burke’s mother, father, and brother have contested these subpoenas, which led to the documents becoming public.
Details from Subpoenas and Police Findings
The subpoenas reveal previously undisclosed details about the discovery of the girl’s remains. The 2023 Tesla Model Y had been towed from an upscale neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills after being apparently abandoned.
According to the court documents, investigators searching the vehicle at the tow yard found a cadaver bag
“covered with insects and a strong odor of decay”.The detectives partially unzipped the bag and observed a decomposed head and torso. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene.
The documents further state:
“Upon removing the cadaver bag from the front storage compartment, it was discovered the arms and legs had been severed from the body. A second black bag was discovered underneath the cadaver bag. Upon opening the second bag, the dismembered body parts were discovered.”
Previously, the medical examiner’s office had only disclosed that the body was severely decomposed and that Rivas Hernandez had likely been deceased for an extended period before discovery. No cause of death has been released. In November, Los Angeles police obtained a court order preventing the chief medical examiner, Dr. Odey Ukpo, from releasing autopsy findings.
Burke’s Response and Legal Proceedings
At the time the body was found, Burke was in the midst of a US tour and continued performing several shows. However, after his connection to the case became widely known, he cancelled the remainder of his concerts and a planned European tour.
Representatives for D4vd did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday and have not previously replied to emails from the Associated Press regarding the case.
A Texas judge ruled that Burke’s family members cannot disregard the subpoenas and ordered them to appear in California to testify.
