SAEDNEWS: Authorities have identified the decomposed body found in singer D4vd’s impounded Tesla as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, raising disturbing questions about how the vehicle ended up abandoned for weeks in the Hollywood Hills.
Los Angeles police are investigating a chilling case that has placed rising TikTok star and singer-songwriter D4vd at the center of a grim mystery. On September 8, workers at a Hollywood tow yard reported a strong odor coming from a Tesla that had been impounded weeks earlier. When officers opened the car’s front trunk—known as the “frunk”—they found human remains stuffed inside a bag.
The Tesla was registered to David Burke, better known by his stage name D4vd, whose viral tracks catapulted him from TikTok sensation to a record deal with Interscope Records.
Law enforcement confirmed to NBC Investigates that the remains belonged to 15-year-old Celeste Rivas. Forensic testing was required due to the advanced decomposition of the body, which was described as not being intact. The cause of death has yet to be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office.
The discovery has shocked fans and residents alike, particularly since neighbors reported that the Tesla had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for more than a month before being towed.
Representatives for the 19-year-old singer have stressed that he is fully cooperating with investigators, though he was on tour in Minneapolis at the time the body was discovered.
"D4vd has been informed about what’s happened. And, although he is still out on tour, he is fully cooperating with the authorities," his spokesperson said in a statement.
Universal Music Group, the parent company of Interscope Records, referred all inquiries to D4vd’s attorney, who has yet to issue an official comment.
The incident marks a dramatic shift for D4vd, who rose to prominence on TikTok with viral songs that garnered millions of streams. With 3.6 million followers on the platform, his success led to high-profile collaborations and a record deal with Darkroom and Interscope, the same labels behind breakout artists like Billie Eilish.
But his newfound fame has now been overshadowed by the gruesome discovery in his vehicle. Fans have flooded his social media with questions and concern, while others have defended him, pointing out that being the registered owner does not necessarily tie him directly to the incident.
In the Hollywood Hills, where the Tesla was first spotted, neighbors told reporters that they had noticed the vehicle sitting in the same spot for weeks. Some assumed it had simply been abandoned, while others became suspicious. After a report was filed, authorities impounded the car, which eventually led to the grim discovery.
Police have not indicated whether foul play is suspected, but the case is currently being treated as a death investigation.
As investigators continue to piece together how Celeste Rivas ended up in the Tesla, questions swirl about possible connections, timelines, and whether anyone will be charged. Meanwhile, D4vd’s tour continues, though the cloud of the investigation looms large over his rising career.
For now, the public is left with more questions than answers. Who was Celeste Rivas to those involved? How did the Tesla sit for weeks unnoticed? And what does this mean for a young artist suddenly thrust into headlines for reasons darker than his music?
Until authorities provide clarity, the case of the body found in D4vd’s Tesla remains one of the most unsettling Hollywood mysteries of the year.
