On September 8, the body of a missing 15-year-old girl was found decomposed inside of a Tesla. According to CNN, the vehicle was registered to 20-year-old David Anthony Burke, the indie and R&B singer D4vd. The body was identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenage girl who had been missing for over a year. Her body was found at a Los Angeles impoundment lot. Burke is being investigated in connection with the murder; his Hollywood Hills home has already been searched by the LAPD.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death is being investigated as a homicide. She was 13 when she was reported missing in April 2024 at Lake Elsinore, according to CNN. Although her body has been confirmed by medical examiners as “badly decomposed,” the cause of her death has been deferred. This means that the “deputy medical examiner completed an examination, but a cause of death has not been determined,” according to KTLA News. As a result, the investigators cannot declare if the victim had an overdose or was intoxicated on the day of her death. Once the cause of her death is confirmed, the examiners can then determine the circumstances involved in her death.
Netizens on social media have been quick to point out the history between Hernandez and Burke. The two share the same “Shhh…” tattoo on their fingers, according to TMZ. The mother of Hernandez also admitted to knowing about her daughter having a boyfriend named David, according to News Nation.
Online users have also taken to dissecting the lyrics of D4vd’s songs because of their suspicious lyrics and imagery, as well as their possible correlation with the victim. One of the singer’s most popular tracks, “Romantic Homicide,” has particularly received a lot of attention as D4vd sings, “In the back of my mind, I killed you. And I didn’t even regret it. I can’t believe I said it. But it’s true.” While these lyrics aren’t confirmation of anything, some users comment on how the song hasn’t aged well.
“This song is basically a confession. Absolutely insane,” an anonymous user said on YouTube. In addition, many people have pointed out how many of the female actors used in the singer’s music videos bear a resemblance to Hernandez.
“The fact that the girl in the video looks exactly like Celeste is insane. RIP Celeste,” another user on YouTube wrote. Despite the influx of opinions and theories from users online, everything is alleged and unconfirmed.
Several news reporters have stated that the car is registered to D4vd. It’s not clear why the singer’s car has been impounded. D4vd’s scheduled tour in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and various European countries has been removed from Ticketmaster and the venue’s website, according to CNN.
The body of Hernandez has been released back to her family. A vigil was held last Sunday for the victim. The family is now accepting donations to cover her funeral cost through the attached gofundme page.
Despite all the online theories and predictions surrounding this case, it is essential to note that the investigation is still ongoing, and much of the available information is speculative and unconfirmed. It will take time before the truth about Hernandez’s death comes to light. For now, we know that a 15-year-old was missing for a year and was later found deceased in the back of a Tesla. Regardless of the truth behind the cause of Hernandez’s death and details regarding Burke’s alleged involvement, her loss is tragic and has been felt across the country. It is important to remember that behind the online theories and speculations, a family is mourning the loss of their young daughter, who has tragically lost her life.
