Singer D4vd (David Anthony Bjork) found with body of 15‑year‑old Celeste Rivas in Tesla; homicide investigation ongoing
Executive summary
Police describe the discovery of 15‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s decomposing body inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd (David Anthony Burke), and Los Angeles detectives are treating the matter as an active murder investigation while the medical examiner’s findings remain limited and partly sealed [1] [2]. Authorities say D4vd is viewed as a suspect by some investigators but has not been publicly charged; reporting also describes contested details — including claims of dismemberment, travel to Santa Barbara, and videos and tattoos cited by sources — that remain under review [3] [4] [5].
1. What investigators say: homicide probe, evidence under seal
LAPD detectives have characterized the inquiry as an “investigation into murder” and sought a court order to keep the medical examiner’s report from public release, arguing that publishing autopsy details could jeopardize the probe; the medical examiner’s office confirmed receipt of a court-ordered security hold on the case file [1] [2]. Multiple outlets report investigators found the teen’s body wrapped in plastic and decomposing in the Tesla’s front trunk when it was discovered in September 2025 [4] [5].
2. Where D4vd fits in the investigation: suspect status, no public charges
Sources tell People and other outlets that investigators are “looking at” or “view D4vd as a suspect,” and law enforcement officials have not ruled anyone out — but reporting also makes clear he has not been charged publicly in connection with Celeste’s death as of the cited coverage [3] [1] [5]. News outlets note D4vd canceled tour dates and did not publicly comment; some reports say he initially cooperated but later was described as “not cooperating” by a police source [6] [3].
3. Conflicting or still‑unverified forensic claims
Different reports repeat sensitive forensic details with varying specificity: some sources say the body was dismembered and possibly frozen; others emphasize the medical examiner has “deferred” cause of death pending further testing — meaning definitive cause and manner remain limited in published records [7] [8]. The LAPD sought secrecy precisely because investigators believe premature release of such findings could harm their work, underscoring that many forensic conclusions cited in media are either sealed or awaiting confirmation [1].
4. Peripheral evidence and source disputes
Reporting draws on a mix of police sources, court filings, leaked videos, and private investigator claims: TMZ and ABC7 cite items such as alleged videos showing a bloodied shirt and other disturbing footage, while other outlets note shared tattoos, leaked songs, and travel history that investigators want to verify [4] [9] [10]. These items are presented as leads rather than proven facts; outlets explicitly differ on whether the material shows D4vd acting criminally or is being interpreted out of context [9] [4].
5. Why charges haven’t been filed (legal and evidentiary limits)
Legal analysts and reporting explain that without a definitive cause and manner of death from the medical examiner — and with toxicology and other testing pending — prosecutors and police face limits on arrest and charging decisions; one analysis says authorities often wait for autopsy and forensic results before filing major homicide charges [7]. The LAPD and prosecutors also face the procedural step of presenting evidence to a grand jury when cases reach that point, which some outlets report is underway in parts [11].
6. Media impact and public reaction
The case has driven intense public attention: search‑trends data place D4vd among 2025’s most‑searched people, and coverage has mixed reporting of confirmed facts with circulating allegations and social speculation — a dynamic that can shape perceptions before courts weigh evidence [12] [6]. Several outlets caution that high public interest and leaked material complicate investigative secrecy and legal fairness [1].
7. What is still unknown or unreported in sources
Available sources do not mention final autopsy conclusions publicly; they do not show any charging document or indictment specifying criminal counts against D4vd; and they do not present court‑admitted forensic evidence establishing time, cause, or manner of death in open filings [1] [5] [11]. Many reported details — alleged videos, claims of dismemberment, travel to Santa Barbara and other elements — are cited to unnamed law‑enforcement or media sources and remain subject to verification [4] [9] [10].
8. How to read competing narratives
Treat contemporaneous reports as a patchwork of confirmed police action (vehicle registered to Burke, body found in Tesla, LAPD calling it a murder investigation, medical‑examiner hold) and unverified or sealed assertions (dismemberment/frozen condition, leaked videos, definitive cause of death, criminal charges) [5] [1] [4]. The most reliable claims in current reporting are investigative steps and procedural moves; accusatory or sensational details often rely on unnamed sources or materials that courts have restricted [1] [3].
Limitations: this summary relies solely on the cited contemporary reporting and does not include subsequent filings, unsealed autopsy reports, or legal documents that may emerge later. All factual assertions above cite the specific sources used (p1_s1 — [3]5).