Rising Singer d4vd Under Scrutiny in Grisly Death of 15-Year-Old Fan: Grooming Allegations and Disturbing Evidence Emerge

By Alex Rivera, Entertainment and Crime Correspondent
Los Angeles, CA – February 10, 2025

The music world is reeling as 20-year-old rising star d4vd (real name David Anthony Burke), known for viral TikTok hits like “Romantic Homicide,” finds himself at the center of a horrifying investigation into the death of 15-year-old Celeste, a fan whose dismembered remains were discovered in the trunk of his Tesla. What began as a missing persons case has spiraled into allegations of grooming, isolation, and possible murder, with online sleuths and law enforcement uncovering a timeline of disturbing interactions dating back years. While d4vd has cooperated with authorities and no charges have been filed, the case has ignited public outrage, prompting brands to distance themselves and fans to demand justice for the young victim.

Celeste, born in September 2010, was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California—a town about 70 miles from downtown LA—in April 2024. Her body was found on September 8, 2025, in the “frunk” (front trunk) of d4vd’s Texas-registered Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard, after workers reported a foul odor of decaying flesh. The remains, wrapped in plastic and severely decomposed, included her head and torso; she had been dead for at least five days, possibly longer. Identification was aided by a distinctive finger tattoo matching one on d4vd, along with clothing—a tube top, black leggings, yellow metal chain bracelet, and stud earrings—that aligned with her missing persons description. She was last seen wearing a Hello Kitty keychain, a detail echoed in d4vd’s social media aesthetics.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) raided d4vd’s rented Hollywood Hills home on September 7, 2025, seizing a laptop and other items as potential evidence. Neighbors recalled the dented Tesla parked oddly nearby before it was towed and impounded on September 3. The LA County Medical Examiner’s Office is still determining the cause of death, classifying the probe as a “death investigation” rather than a homicide for now. d4vd, currently on tour, has not been named a suspect but is being questioned about his whereabouts, cell records, and connection to Celeste.

A Timeline of Alleged Grooming: From Discord Chats to Matching Tattoos

Online investigators and leaked messages paint a chilling picture of a relationship that allegedly began when Celeste was just 11. Screenshots from Discord servers in 2022 show d4vd engaging with a user named “Celeste,” discussing personal matters in ways that raised red flags among community members. One chat reportedly identifies her as his “girlfriend,” with references to intimate encounters. Her last Discord activity was in early 2024, three months before she vanished.

By 2023-2024, social media posts and photos allegedly show the pair together: d4vd covering Celeste’s face in one image (to shield her identity?), her in the outfit from her missing poster in another, and videos of them on FaceTime or streams. A purse seen in d4vd’s April 2025 TikTok matches one linked to Celeste. Shared interests, like Hello Kitty—evident in d4vd’s profile pictures and Celeste’s accessories—further tie them together. Witnesses from Lake Elsinore claim Celeste, an eighth grader at the time, traveled to LA with d4vd, who was spotted near her family’s home paying off locals to stay silent about their involvement.

Celeste’s brother has publicly voiced frustration, telling online forums he warned police about d4vd’s “dangerous” influence but was dismissed due to “lack of evidence.” He claims d4vd and associates threatened him after he raised alarms. Text exchanges with Celeste’s friend, leaked online, reveal her isolation: “Are you going to talk to David or go back with him? I don’t want you to get into any more trouble with him.” Celeste responds cryptically about bleeding during intimacy, suggesting coercion: “I only bled with David… he got mad at me the first time for not having [sex] with him.”

The relationship’s illegality is central: At 20, d4vd was nine years older than Celeste when she was 11, fitting grooming patterns of targeting vulnerable minors. Her family described a “disruptive home life,” noting this wasn’t her first runaway incident, but they held out hope she was safe with her “boyfriend” David—unaware of the full extent.

Eerie Connections in d4vd’s Music and Social Media

d4vd’s discography has come under intense scrutiny, with fans pointing to lyrics that eerily mirror the tragedy. His 2022 hit “Romantic Homicide” video dropped on Celeste’s birthday (September 7), featuring lines like: “In the back of my mind, you died and I didn’t even cry… I killed you and I didn’t even regret it. I hate you.” Another unreleased track references “her” obsessively, while “Celeste” (2022) includes: “Oh, Celeste, the girl with my name tattooed on her chest… Missing you so much makes me depressed.” The song “Save Your Tears” (2022) alludes to waiting “seven years” for her to turn 18, aligning with claims they connected when she was 11.

d4vd’s social media adds to the unease: A repost of a couple joking about cannibalism, a video of chopping meat captioned “me if I see her talking with other dudes,” and jealous rants about her “past with other boys.” A 2022 tweet surfaces: “You were talking about wanting to be with your mom and sister again… Our circumstances won’t allow us to be in our ideal situations.” Speculation swirls that Celeste may have been pregnant, forcing her isolation to hide the evidence as d4vd’s career took off.

Motive theories abound: Did Celeste want to leave, threatening to expose their relationship? Or was pregnancy the catalyst? d4vd allegedly paid off her high school peers to keep quiet, with one Reddit user claiming their ninth-grade sister knew of trips to LA.

Family Grief, Public Backlash, and Broader Implications

Celeste’s mother expressed devastation, clinging to hope until the grim discovery. “She gets justice for what happened to her,” a family friend told reporters. The brother reiterated police inaction: “I went to the police about it… but there was a lack of evidence.” Online, memorials for Celeste have popped up at d4vd’s tour stops, with fans chanting for accountability.

The fallout is swift: Brands are dropping d4vd, and collaborators like Kali Uchis have distanced themselves, denying friendship beyond a single track. His album release, planned for today, hangs in limbo amid the scandal. A second body—a woman’s remains in a scorched Honda Civic at another tow yard—surfaced this week, but officials say it’s unrelated, tied to a separate missing persons report.

As the autopsy continues, the case exposes the dark underbelly of online fame: How fan interactions on platforms like Discord and TikTok can blur into exploitation. Celeste’s story—a bright-eyed teen obsessed with a singer—ends in horror, wrapped in plastic in a luxury car. Her family seeks answers, and the public demands them. “She was just a baby,” one fan tweeted. Whether d4vd’s “cooperation” holds or evidence mounts, this tragedy underscores the urgent need for vigilance in protecting minors from predatory dynamics in the digital age. Justice for Celeste remains the rallying cry.