How tiny details led police to D4vd in shocking teen Celeste Rivas murder probe

Singer D4vd, real name David Burke, has been arrested in Los Angeles months after a 14-year-old girl’s body was found in his abandoned Tesla. The case, filled with unsettling details, unfolded slowly as investigators worked to piece together what happened. Now, authorities say their efforts have led them to a key suspect.

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How did the investigation begin in the D4vd case?

That smell turned out to be far more than a routine issue. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered the decomposing and dismembered remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, who had previously been reported missing in April.


According to statements given to The Post by Robbery-Homicide Division commanding officer Cpt. Scot Williams, the condition of the body made the case especially difficult from the start.

“She had been dead for a long time before that, and so we were behind the eight-ball from the beginning,” Williams told The Post. “We had to backtrack through the evidence to make a determination as to when she died and then work our way forward from there.”

The body had been wrapped in plastic, and investigators needed additional time to confirm the death was a homicide, as per a report by The New York Post.

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What evidence connected David Burke to the case?

From early on, the Tesla provided a direct lead. The vehicle was registered to David Burke, the 21-year-old Queens-born pop singer known as D4vd. As investigators dug deeper, they began interviewing witnesses, collecting physical evidence, and carefully building a timeline, as per a report by The New York Post.

"There were plenty of ways that we were able to connect her to him fairly early in the investigation,” said Williams. But the suspicion of foul play is not good enough.”

Authorities tracked Burke’s movements during the months-long investigation, including a trip to Texas to visit family. Throughout that time, police say he cooperated with investigators.

During the course of the probe, additional troubling details surfaced. A “burn cage” incinerator capable of reaching 1,600 degrees was reportedly found at a Hollywood Hills property Burke had been renting, according to a private investigator hired by the homeowner, as per a report by The New York Post.

Despite growing pressure to act quickly, Williams said detectives remained focused on building a solid case.

“There was a lot of outside pressure for [investigators] to act quickly," he explained. “They were able to put that aside and do the tedious, meticulous work that was needed to ensure we had an airtight case.”

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What happens next in the case?

Once investigators determined they had probable cause, Burke was arrested at a Hollywood Hills home without incident. He is currently being held without bail. The case is expected to be presented to the District Attorney’s office, where formal charges may be filed, as per a report by The New York Post.

Burke’s legal team has strongly denied the allegations. In a joint statement, his attorneys said, “Let us be clear — the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence."

Investigators believe Burke acted alone, though they have indicated that more details will be released in the coming days.

The case remains active, with authorities continuing to piece together the final moments leading up to the girl’s death and the events that followed.

FAQs

Why was D4vd arrested?
He was taken into custody in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl.

Has he been formally charged?
No, charges are expected to be announced after the case is presented to prosecutors.