Authorities in Los Angeles are investigating the discovery of a decomposing body inside a Tesla registered to singer D4vd, whose representatives said the artist is cooperating with investigators and will continue his scheduled world tour.
Los Angeles police said the partially decomposed remains were found Monday afternoon after passersby reported a foul odor coming from a vehicle in the Hollywood Hills. The vehicle, bearing Texas license plates, had been impounded and apparently left at the location for about five days before officers opened it and discovered the body.
A spokesperson for the singer, born David Anthony Burke in Queens, told NBC Los Angeles that "D4vd has been informed about what’s happened. And, although he is still out on tour, he is fully cooperating with the authorities." The representative did not provide further details about the singer’s communications with investigators. Police said no arrests have been announced and the cause of death remains under investigation.
Police described the remains as "not fully intact" and said the discovery followed citizen reports about the odor. Investigators have not released the identity of the deceased, pending family notification and further forensic work. The Los Angeles Police Department is leading the investigation and has not publicly tied Burke to the circumstances that led to the body being left in the vehicle.
According to the artist’s public tour schedule, Burke was performing in Columbus, Ohio, around the time the Tesla was reportedly abandoned. Representatives said Burke is continuing his tour and was scheduled to perform at The Fillmore Minneapolis on Tuesday night. The singer’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
D4vd rose to prominence in recent years with a string of viral songs and a growing international audience. The investigation has drawn wide public attention because the vehicle was linked to a touring musician with a national profile; however, law enforcement officials cautioned against drawing conclusions before forensic and investigative steps are completed.
Los Angeles detectives will continue forensic examination of the vehicle and the remains, and are canvassing the area and reviewing any available surveillance footage to determine when and how the vehicle came to be abandoned. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and that they will release additional information as it becomes available.
The discovery follows a pattern in which law enforcement urges the public to report unusual smells, fluids or unattended vehicles, especially in residential areas. In this case, the tip from passersby directly led to the discovery and the opening of a homicide or death investigation file. The Los Angeles Police Department and the coroner’s office will coordinate to establish the identity and cause of death.
Representatives for Burke have said the artist will continue to comply with investigative requests even while completing tour dates. The Los Angeles Police Department has not publicly indicated whether D4vd is a person of interest or a witness, only that the investigation remains active and that there have been no charges filed.
News organizations have sought comment from Burke’s legal team; his representatives referred media inquiries to the statement confirming cooperation. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the remains in the impounded Tesla continues, and authorities urged anyone with information to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.