D4vd’s Former Landlord Hires Private Investigator to Uncover the Truth Behind the Mysterious Death of Celeste Rivas

The music industry and beyond are reeling from the shocking death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose dismembered remains were found last month in the trunk of an impounded Tesla belonging to rising rap star D4vd. Discovered on September 8, 2025, at a Hollywood tow yard after reports of a foul odor, the grim finding has sparked a relentless pursuit for justice. D4vd’s former landlord, determined to uncover the truth, has hired a private investigator, raising hopes that long-buried secrets will surface and those responsible will be held accountable.

Celeste Rivas, a bright and studious teen from Lake Elsinore, California, vanished on April 5, 2024, at age 13. Known for her intelligence and dreams of becoming a veterinarian, she was last seen leaving home, possibly to meet friends or see a movie. Despite extensive searches and multiple welfare checks by Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies over the following year, her case went cold, leaving her family in anguish.

The investigation took a horrific turn when workers at a Hollywood impound lot, alerted by a stench from a 2023 Tesla Model 3, discovered Celeste’s decomposed and dismembered remains wrapped in black plastic bags. The vehicle, registered to David Anthony Burke—known professionally as D4vd, the 20-year-old behind viral hits like “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me”—had been ticketed on September 3 after sitting abandoned on Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills for weeks. Residents had complained about the car since August, unaware of the tragedy it concealed.

Authorities estimate Celeste had been dead for weeks, possibly since late August, but the extreme decomposition caused by Southern California’s heat has hindered efforts to determine the cause or exact time of death. Initially investigated as a potential homicide, the case is now being probed for possible concealment of a body, with no criminal charges filed yet. Pending toxicology reports and further autopsies may provide clarity, but experts warn the case could remain unresolved due to the state of the evidence.

Elena Vasquez, D4vd’s former landlord at an Echo Park apartment complex where he briefly rented in early 2024, has taken matters into her own hands. A widow in her 60s with a reputation for no-nonsense property management, Vasquez grew suspicious of D4vd’s behavior during his tenancy—late-night visitors, prolonged absences, and an unused Tesla in the lot. “He seemed polite, but something wasn’t right,” she told reporters. “When I heard about that poor girl’s body in his car, I knew someone had to act.”

Vasquez hired Marcus Hale, a renowned private investigator known for tackling high-profile cold cases. Funded by a GoFundMe campaign raising over $50,000 from fans and true-crime enthusiasts, Hale’s team is combing through surveillance footage, interviewing Celeste’s acquaintances, and examining D4vd’s tour schedule, which had him performing across the U.S. during key periods. Early findings include a photo of D4vd and Celeste together months before her disappearance and claims from Celeste’s brother, Matthew, that D4vd had driven Celeste’s younger sister in the same Tesla multiple times. “She trusted him,” Matthew said, his voice breaking. “We need to know what happened.”

D4vd’s team has remained tight-lipped, with his manager stating only that the artist is cooperating with authorities. Despite the controversy, D4vd has continued his “Withered World Tour,” though sources hint at growing tension with his label, Interscope Records. Social media is ablaze with #JusticeForCeleste, mixing grief with speculation about everything from rivalries to a cover-up tied to D4vd’s meteoric rise from TikTok fame to multiplatinum success.

Celeste’s family, devastated yet resolute, remembers a girl full of promise. Her mother, Rosa Hernandez, has begged for answers, vowing to leave no stone unturned. As Hale’s investigation aligns with renewed LAPD efforts, bolstered by federal forensics, the case teeters on the edge of revelation. Will it expose negligence, malice, or something darker? In a city where fame often overshadows accountability, Celeste’s story demands justice—a reckoning to ensure her life is not forgotten in the shadow of tragedy.