Romantic murder or just pure evil?
Celeste Rivas had her whole life ahead of her and just turned 15 this year. Like any other teenager, she had dreams and ambitions, celebrity crushes and personal struggles. But in a tragic turn of events, her life was brutally cut short when her body was discovered on September 8 in an abandoned car registered to 20-year-old singer David Anthony Burke, better known by his stage name d4vd.
Since the tragic news first broke, fans have been speculating about the nature of Celeste and d4vd’s relationship. Fans were especially intrigued by d4vd’s 2022 song called Romantic murderwhose lyrics read like a confession of murder.
After two months of speculation and wild theories, D4vd has been officially identified as a suspect in Celeste’s death. TMZ.
Here’s everything we know for sure about Celeste Rivas Hernandez and her alleged links to d4vd.
Who was Celeste Rivas?
Celeste Rivas came from Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California – about 80 miles southeast of Hollywood Hills, where her body was found in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to d4vd.
She was the daughter of first-generation immigrant parents from El Salvador. The Lakeland Village high school student’s exact date of birth has not been released, although she was born around 2010 or 2011.
Her teachers knew her as a bright student who could read and write well, and her classmates remembered her as someone who was fun to be around.
Celeste had many hobbies and interests and dreamed of one day becoming a singer, model or even teacher.
She was known by her neighbors in the suburbs and visited convenience stores every day. However, there was something that haunted her in her personal life – something she never told anyone.
Celeste Rivas has been missing since April 2024
Celeste had been reported missing since April 2024, when her body was finally discovered and identified on September 8, 2025. But it wasn’t the first time she had run away from home.
The Riverside County Sheriff Office reported this Los Angeles Times that Celeste was first reported missing on Valentine’s Day 2024 and returned home a few days later.
Her family reported her missing for the second time on March 19, 2024. Once again she returned.
On April 5, 2024, she was reported missing again. This time she didn’t come back. She was 13 years old at the time.
She reportedly called home in May, and that was the last time her family heard from her.
Celeste Rivas was in a relationship with a man named David, according to her mother
After news of Celeste’s death came out, her mother said TMZ that Celeste was dating a man named David.
The grieving mother admitted she had never met the man, but Celeste had told her about him.
Matching tattoos and ‘Romantic Murder’
Celeste’s body was identified in part thanks to the tattoo on her right index finger that read “Shhh…”, which her mother immediately recognized.
Internet sleuths soon discovered that d4vd also had the same “Shhh…” tattoo on his right index finger.
Another wild fan theory surfaced that d4vd’s song, Romantic murderwas a confession hidden in plain sight. Fans speculated that the song was released on Celeste’s birthday, which remains unknown. However, Romantic murder was actually released in 2024.
In the song, 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… I hate you.”
Celeste Rivas ‘disabled, partially frozen’ body found in D4vd’s car
On September 8, 2025, Los Angeles Police responded to a call about a Tesla seized in Hollywood Hills emitting a foul odor. The LAPD officers opened the car and discovered the remains of a body in the trunk.
It was soon discovered that the car was registered to d4vd in Hempstead, Texas.
According to the LAPD, Celeste had likely been dead for weeks, even months, as residents complained about the car and the smell as early as August.
On November 22 TMZ reported that when Celeste’s body was found, she was incapacitated, partially frozen, and her limbs had been removed and dismembered.
d4vd identified as suspect in Celeste Riva’s death
On November 18 TMZ reported that d4vd has been identified as a suspect in the death of Celeste Rivas – more than two months after her body was found.
In September, the spokesperson for d4vd NBC Los Angeles“d4vd has been informed of what happened. And although he is still on tour, he is fully cooperating with the authorities.”
Days later, the singer canceled the remainder of his Withered World tour. Shortly thereafter, the LAPD obtained a warrant to search the Hollywood Hills home where d4vd had lived.
No arrests have been made so far and the nature of the investigation remains under wraps.
Rest in peace, Celeste Rivas.
