Singer D4vd is currently under scrutiny by a Los Angeles County grand jury for the death of a 14-year-old girl whose remains were discovered last year in an abandoned Tesla linked to him. Court records have revealed that prosecutors have identified the 20-year-old alt-pop artist, born in Houston as David Burke, as the focus of the investigation through grand jury subpoenas issued on January 15, requesting testimony from three of his family members.
The details, previously sealed in California, were made public when the singer’s mother, father, and brother challenged the subpoenas in Texas. The documents indicate that the individual under investigation might have committed a crime, specifically one count of Murder, under California law.
According to court filings, the Tesla was registered under D4vd’s name at the residence of his family members who were subpoenaed. While authorities have not officially named D4vd as a suspect, the body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, which was found on September 8, was identified as that of a 14-year-old in the legal documents, though she was reported missing at the age of 13 in 2024 from her hometown of Lake Elsinore.
Upon inspecting the 2023 Tesla Model Y in a tow yard, investigators discovered a cadaver bag emitting a strong odor of decay and infested with insects. The bag contained a decomposed head and torso, with additional dismembered body parts found in a separate bag.
Despite the ongoing investigation, representatives for D4vd have not responded to requests for comments. The District Attorney’s Office has chosen not to provide any statements. In Texas, a judge has instructed the three family members to comply with the subpoenas and testify in California.
The abandoned Tesla, which had been towed from a lavish Hollywood Hills neighborhood, drew attention to the singer’s involvement in the case. D4vd proceeded with some performances following the discovery of the girl’s body but eventually canceled his remaining shows and a European tour once his association with the incident was widely publicized.
Authorities have not disclosed the cause of Rivas Hernandez’s death, and the findings from the autopsy remain confidential. D4vd, known for his music blending indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop, rose to fame among Gen Z fans and achieved success with hit songs like “Romantic Homicide.” His career was on an upward trajectory with multiple record releases until the connection to the investigation interrupted his music engagements.