Los Angeles police said officers discovered a decomposing body inside the front trunk of an impounded Tesla on Monday, a vehicle reported to be registered to 20-year-old singer D4vd.
Police responded to complaints of a foul odor coming from a car at an impound lot, where officers located a body placed in a bag inside the vehicle's front trunk, the Los Angeles Police Department told media outlets. The department said it is treating the matter as a death investigation; no arrests have been announced.
Local reports say the Tesla, which carried Texas license plates, had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills about five days before the discovery and had been in the impound lot for several days. Footage published by outlets showed police officers around the car, a white tent set up nearby and the vehicle being towed from the lot after the body was found.
ABC7 reported the car is registered to David Anthony Burke, who performs under the stage name D4vd. Burke, 20, has risen rapidly in the music industry over the past year, playing at Coachella and appearing as a musical guest on The Late Show. He released his debut album, Withered, earlier this year and is touring internationally; several outlets reported his next scheduled show was in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
Authorities have not provided details on the identity of the deceased or a cause of death. The LAPD said investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. Media reports said the body was discovered inside a bag in the vehicle's front trunk, sometimes called a frunk.
The discovery prompted an investigation at the impound lot and the temporary deployment of a crime-scene tent. News organizations reported that representatives for the singer were contacted for comment. One outlet said it had approached the artist's representatives but did not immediately receive a response.
Investigators have not linked the vehicle's registration to any criminal charges related to the discovery, and officials cautioned that the inquiry remains active. The LAPD did not provide an immediate public timeline for releasing additional information.
The incident adds an unexpected and tragic development to the musician's busy year, during which he has performed at high-profile events and posted a preview of a new single slated for release later this month. Authorities urged anyone with information related to the vehicle, its abandonment in the Hollywood Hills, or the impound lot incident to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.