Los Angeles police are investigating the dismembered remains of a missing 13-year-old girl found inside a Tesla registered to the musician known as D4vd, a development that has triggered a homicide inquiry and prompted a rapid retreat by high-profile collaborators and brands tied to the rising star.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, rose to prominence on TikTok and built a network of industry connections that included producers and artists such as Benny Blanco, SZA and Billie Eilish. He made a late-night debut in November 2023 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, an appearance that helped him break into broader mainstream visibility at the age of 18. In the months that followed, he shared stages with major names and cultivated a persona centered on dark, cinematic visuals and collaborations across genres. As investigators work to establish what happened in this case, the same circle that once celebrated his ascent has begun to distance itself.
The discovery unfolded on Sept. 8 at a Hollywood tow yard, where officers investigated a strong odor emanating from the front trunk of a black Tesla Model Y that had been on the lot for only two days. Inside, investigators found partial remains that officials have identified as those of Celeste Rivas, a Lake Elsinore, California, resident who was reported missing in May 2024 when she was 13. Authorities have not released a confirmed cause of death, and they note the body showed signs of advanced decomposition. The car, impounded at the time, had been connected to Burke, who was away on the West Coast leg of his Withered World Tour when the discovery was made.
Sources familiar with the case have alleged an underage relationship between Burke and Rivas, though investigators have not publicly confirmed such a relationship. One family member told a daily tabloid that the two had spent time together and that Burke sometimes picked Rivas up in the same Tesla later involved in the investigation. Burke’s team has declined to comment, directing inquiries to his attorney, Blair Berk, who has previously represented high-profile figures including Prince Andrew. Berk did not respond to requests for comment.
The fallout for Burke’s professional life has been swift and noticeable. Dozens of fellow artists and celebrities have unfollowed him on social media, and several collaborators have requested the removal of their work from streaming services. Grammy-winning artist Kari Uchis announced she was working to remove her collaboration with Burke from streaming platforms in light of the developing case, saying she would not be associating with his material amid “disturbing news.” Uchis’s move underscores how quickly a rising star can see professional ties fray when a high-stakes investigation is underway. Other collaborators with Burke have included Stray Kids’ Hyunjin, Laufey, 21 Savage and Holly Humberstone, among others.
The entertainment industry has also begun to react on the business side: Interscope Records announced it would shelving a deluxe version of Burke’s forthcoming album, and major brands paused campaigns featuring Burke as the investigation progresses. Crocs and Hollister previously linked to Burke’s marketing campaigns have cropped his image from promotional material, though products remain for sale online. The responses reflect a broader trend of brands exercising caution when a connected figure becomes the subject of a criminal investigation, even before any charges are filed.
In the days surrounding the investigation, Burke had been active on the U.S. tour circuit and had recently performed at major venues, including Coachella, before his schedule was paused pending further developments. He had also performed a song on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that has since been scrubbed from the program’s channels. His onstage persona, anchored by the alter-ego Itami and a brand built around dark, death-themed imagery, has remained a topic of discussion as investigators review his public postings and relationships that may illuminate the nature of his connection to Rivas.
Law enforcement has conducted searches at Burke’s Hollywood Hills rental property, where investigators removed bags of evidence and loaded them into a vehicle. A LAPD spokesperson said that several items recovered during the search would be analyzed in the coming days as detectives work to determine any connection to the case. Investigators have indicated that no charges have been filed and that no persons of interest have been named publicly at this stage, though Burke is said to be cooperating with authorities.
The investigation has a broader social and cultural context. Rivas’s family has established a GoFundMe to cover funeral and related expenses, while outlets have reported an abrupt reorientation among Burke’s peers and fans as questions about the timeline and the nature of his relationship with Rivas emerge. On social media, fans and observers have weighed in on Burke’s career trajectory, the ethics of collaboration with underage individuals, and the implications for platforms that amplified his rise. The controversy has sparked renewed scrutiny of how streaming platforms and talent agencies handle cases involving young artists and potentially vulnerable collaborators.
As investigators continue their work, Burke’s legal representation has not released a public statement about the ongoing inquiries. The LAPD has stressed that the investigation remains active and ongoing, and they pledged to provide updates as new details become available. The case has already produced a measure of impact on the music community, where peers are reassessing professional associations and the public is reassessing the rapid ascent of a young artist whose meteoric rise was propelled by viral videos and high-profile collaborations.
The ongoing inquiries and the evolving public response will likely shape Burke’s career in the months ahead. For now, the authorities are prioritizing a careful, evidence-based approach to determine what happened to Celeste Rivas and how the events surrounding the case intersect with Burke’s personal and professional history. The story remains fluid, and updates are expected as investigators process the material recovered in the course of their inquiries. Meanwhile, industry observers will be watching closely how the entertainment ecosystem responds when a performer’s public ascent collides with a high-stakes homicide investigation and the powerful networks that once supported him start to pull back.