FBI Uncovers Chilling TikTok Trail in D4vd Murder Case: Reposts Linked to Victim’s Grisly Death

LOS ANGELES — In a case that has gripped the internet and law enforcement alike, federal investigators have reportedly tied rising rapper D4vd’s (real name David Anthony Burke) disturbing TikTok reposts to the brutal murder of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered remains were discovered in the trunk of his Tesla in September. What began as a missing persons report has evolved into a digital forensics nightmare, with D4vd’s social media activity—once dismissed as “dark humor”—now scrutinized as potential evidence of premeditation, grooming, and obsession. As the LAPD and FBI deepen their probe, the 20-year-old artist’s career lies in ruins, raising urgent questions about the dangers of online predation in the age of viral fame. No charges have been filed against D4vd, who denies involvement, but the revelations have shocked fans and experts.

The Horrific Discovery: A Runaway’s Remains in a Celebrity’s Car

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a petite 15-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, with wavy black hair and a love for Hello Kitty, vanished on April 5, 2024, at age 13. Described by her family as a “beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend,” she had a history of running away, which initially downplayed the urgency of her disappearance. Riverside County Sheriff’s Office reports noted she was last seen in a tube top, black leggings, a yellow metal chain bracelet, and stud earrings—outfit details that later haunted investigators.

On September 8, 2025—Celeste’s 15th birthday—tow yard workers in Hollywood reported a foul odor from an abandoned Tesla Model 3. LAPD officers uncovered her decomposed, dismembered remains in the front trunk (frunk), wrapped in plastic bags. The body, estimated to have been there for months based on decomposition, was not intact; only her torso and head were recovered, with limbs missing. The vehicle was registered to D4vd, whose viral tracks like “Romantic Homicide” (over 1 billion streams) had catapulted him to fame from Houston’s SoundCloud scene.

Celeste’s mother identified her via a distinctive “SH” tattoo in red ink on her right index finger—a match to one on D4vd’s hand. Family members, including her brother Matthew, told NBC News they knew Celeste was involved with a “David” she met online, planning to see a movie with him before vanishing. A former teacher confirmed the social media connection, but early reports were dismissed for lack of concrete evidence.

TikTok as a “Digital Confession”: Reposts That Now Haunt D4vd

The FBI’s involvement escalated after LAPD executed a search warrant on September 18, 2025, at a Hollywood Hills rental home where D4vd had stayed—1.5 blocks from where the Tesla was abandoned. Seizing computers, phones, and forensic samples (including drain swabs for blood or tissue), investigators turned to D4vd’s TikTok, uncovering a pattern of reposts that eerily mirrored the crime.

Sources familiar with the probe, speaking to outlets like TMZ and NewsNation, describe the content as a “treasure map of crazy”—posts from 2021 to 2024 that fetishized violence, dismemberment, and jealousy. Key examples include:

The Chicken-Chopping Video (2023): A repost of a man hacking raw chicken, captioned, “Me if I see her talk with other dudes.” Dismemberment experts note this aligns with the method used on Celeste’s body.

American Psycho Nail Gun Scene (2024): Shared with the caption, “Me after hearing about her past with other boys. I’m jealous and utterly disgusted by her actions.” The film’s themes of obsession and rage echo potential motives like jealousy over Celeste’s interactions.

Boiling Water Meme (Early 2025): A twisted post reading, “Me watching her scream after I poured boiling water on her after she told a boy happy birthday because why are you happy? He made it another year.” Investigators see this as symbolic of possessive rage.

Hello Kitty Obsession: D4vd’s profile picture—a bloody, blindfolded Hello Kitty—gained sinister weight, as Celeste was last seen with Hello Kitty sandals and a keychain. A February 7, 2024, video captioned, “When your card declines at therapy and they bring in that one Hello Kitty girl you met in 2021,” is now interpreted as a veiled reference to grooming Celeste online at age 11.

“I Miss Her” Cryptic Posts: Amid violent memes, D4vd shared content about missing someone, potentially alluding to Celeste post-disappearance—while her body decomposed in his car.

Mock Funerals and Mental Health Struggles: Reposts about “killing partners” and “funerals” were interspersed with therapy jokes, painting a picture of escalating instability.

A leaked unreleased track, “Celeste (Demo Unfin)” from December 2023, includes obsessive lyrics: “Oh, Celeste, the girl with my name tattooed on her chest… I’m obsessed… Missing you so much makes me depressed.” Screenshots from D4vd’s 2022 Discord server show interactions with an 11- or 12-year-old Celeste, suggesting years of grooming.

D4vd’s final Instagram post on September 7, 2025—promoting his album Withered deluxe edition—coincided with Celeste’s birthday, fueling theories of twisted commemoration. His tour schedule allowed him to perform abroad while the Tesla sat abandoned for five days before towing.

Grooming Timeline: From Online Chats to Deadly Reality

Investigators believe the relationship began in 2021 via social media and Discord, when Celeste was 11 and D4vd was 16. By 2023, photos from a Los Angeles event show them together; a Reddit comment eight days before identification linked a Lake Elsinore runaway to D4vd. Family knew of the “David” connection but couldn’t intervene effectively.

Motives remain speculative: jealousy, a pregnancy scare, or fear of career damage from dating a minor. Reports suggest D4vd paid Discord members—mostly young fans—to stay silent, creating a web of complicity. A 2023 photo of D4vd with a girl resembling Celeste at an event confirms real-world meetings.

Celeste’s brother told police she was heading to a movie with “David” on April 5, 2024. Her runaway history masked the danger, delaying action. The family now questions why warnings from teachers and relatives weren’t heeded.

Tesla Data and Digital Forensics: The Smoking Gun

The Tesla proved pivotal. Modern models log location, usage, and camera footage—data the FBI accessed via warrant. The car’s abandonment near D4vd’s rental suggests monitoring without direct involvement. Toxicology and full autopsy results are pending, but decomposition indicates death around tour start (April 2024), allowing D4vd to compartmentalize.

Digital forensics revolutionized the case: TikTok wasn’t “edgy content” but a roadmap of mindset. Experts compare it to Jeffrey Dahmer’s documented fantasies, noting D4vd’s pleasure in psychological games—hiding clues while building his “sensitive artist” image.

Career Collapse and Broader Implications

D4vd’s fallout is swift: Interscope paused Withered promotions; Universal Music Group, Sony, and Wasserman halted activities. Crocs and Hollister scrubbed campaigns; his U.S./world tour was canceled. Streams for “Romantic Homicide” have paradoxically surged, but fans now decry it as a “confession.”

Celeste’s family launched a GoFundMe for burial costs (funeral October 5, 2025), expressing devastation. Her mother confirmed the tattoo privately to police. The case exposes online grooming risks, prompting calls for better platform monitoring and intervention protocols.

No formal charges yet—D4vd cooperates via reps—but evidence mounts. As one investigator noted, “Social media isn’t just background; it’s the crime scene.” For Celeste, justice comes too late, but her story demands systemic change: from ignored red flags to protecting digital natives. The probe continues, with arrests possible post-autopsy.