A decomposing body was discovered inside an abandoned Tesla registered to singer D4vd at a tow yard in Los Angeles, authorities said, prompting an investigation while the artist continues his world tour.
Los Angeles police and tow yard workers found the unidentified remains stashed inside a bag in the vehicle’s trunk after workers reported a foul odor on Sept. 8, according to media reports. Investigators said the car had been towed from the Hollywood Hills area about five days earlier. NBC Los Angeles and other outlets reported that the singer, born David Anthony Burke, is cooperating with investigators.
Burke, who performs as D4vd, was active on social media in the days leading up to the discovery and remained on the road. He was performing in Wisconsin the same day the remains were found as part of his Withered world tour, according to published reports.
The singer, born March 28, 2005, in New York City and raised in Queens, later moved with his family to Houston, where he began releasing music on SoundCloud in 2021. He was homeschooled until about age 13 and has said he grew up listening primarily to gospel before discovering indie and pop music in middle school. D4vd has said video games — particularly music featured in Fortnite — helped shape his sound and creative approach.
D4vd gained traction after pairing songs he wrote with video game montages online. His 2022 single "Romantic Homicide" reached the Billboard Hot 100 after accumulating millions of streams; outlets reported the song had about 75 million streams and that he recorded it on an iPhone while in his sister’s closet. He has described being uneasy in traditional studio settings, saying he overthinks the technical aspects of recording.
In recent years D4vd has moved into higher-profile collaborations and commercial projects. He released a single with 21 Savage in 2023 titled "Call Me Revenge," worked with Kali Uchis on the 2025 track "Crashing," and in early September released "Locked & Loaded," which was described as the official Fortnite anthem. His career, which began with DIY releases and gaming-tinged montages, has expanded to large tours and mainstream partnerships.
Los Angeles police have not released the identity of the deceased pending notification of next of kin and the outcome of forensic examination. The department is investigating the circumstances of the death and how the body came to be inside the vehicle. Authorities did not immediately announce any arrests or list potential suspects in the public reports.
Representatives for D4vd did not immediately respond to requests for comment made through public channels. The artist’s fans, promoters and tour organizers are continuing scheduled performances while the Los Angeles investigation proceeds.
As the inquiry continues, officials are expected to release further details when they become available. The case adds an uncommon and grim chapter to the public profile of a young artist whose rapid rise from SoundCloud uploads to global touring has been widely covered in music and entertainment media.