Trending badgeTrendingPosted 1 hour agoSubscribe to BuzzFeed Daily NewsletterCaret DownHere's The Latest About Musician D4vd And The Body Found In His Abandoned CarThe TikTok-famous musician is "fully cooperating" with authorities in light of an ongoing investigation.by Eleanor JacobsBuzzFeed ContributorFacebookPinterestLink Warning: This post deals with violence and death of a minor. Just over two weeks ago, David Anthony Burke, who works professionally as the artist d4vd (pronounced "David"), was known best for his viral music and melancholic bedroom-pop sound. On September 8, authorities reportedly found human remains in an impounded car registered under his name in a Hollywood tow yard. The discovery of the remains of previously missing California teen Celeste Rivas, as well as the identification of the vehicle, has impacted Burke's public perception and previously ongoing world tour. Lyvans Boolaky / Getty Images As of September 24, Burke has not been arrested or named a suspect in Rivas's case, although authorities maintain that they are following several leads. A representative for Burke told NBC Los Angeles that the artist was "fully cooperating" with authorities. Here's what we know about the artist and the case: 1. He's 20 years old and originally from New York. CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images Burke was born in Queens, New York in 2005. He moved to Houston, Texas at age 13, where his mother homeschooled him. Raised a devout Christian, he told People that he wasn't allowed to listen to secular music until he was 13. 2. He initially wanted to be a professional gamer. UMG / Via youtube.com Before beginning his music career, Burke noted in a 2023 interview with BET that he was drawn to gaming because of the potential to make money through professional e-sports. He was a member of the gaming organization Team Limit. In March 2024, Burke became a content creator at the gaming and lifestyle brand, 100 Thieves. 3. He went viral on TikTok and signed a record deal under Universal Music Group. Darkroom/Interscope Records / Via youtube.com Burke began creating original music as d4vd, oftentimes using the software Bandlab on his phone as a way to underscore his gaming videos. He first released music to streaming platforms in November 2021. While his pieces first received traction in the gaming community, where he was already known, it was the release of the single "Romantic Homicide" in 2022 that catapulted him into virality. The song was well-received for its mournful tone and lyrics surrounding the bitter end of a relationship: "In the back of my mind, I killed you / And I didn't even regret it."Burke signed to Darkroom and Interscope Records under Universal Music Group later that year. Under this new deal, Burke released his debut EP, "Petals to Thorns," in May 2023. His first album, Withered, followed in April 2025 and debuted at the top three on the Billboard Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart.
Burke later opened for SZA on the first leg of her 2023 SOS tour, after the singer previously cosigned him during an interview. Additionally, Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey featured on "This Is How It Feels" in his "Petals to Thorns" EP. Burke also collaborated with pop artist Kali Uchis on the February single "Crashing," and co-wrote a song on her EP. 4. The LAPD identified him as the owner of the abandoned vehicle stowing a body. Antoine Flament / Getty Images On September 8, Los Angeles authorities received reports of a "foul odor" centered in a Hollywood tow yard. They subsequently discovered a body concealed within the trunk of an impounded 2023 Tesla, which had reportedly been placed in a bag and left to decompose for an "extended" period of time, according to the medical examiner's report obtained by KTLA. The Tesla had been towed after being parked in the Hollywood Hills for around a month, and had Texas plates registered under Burke's name. An LAPD spokesperson said in a statement that detectives obtained a search warrant for a Hollywood property where Burke had been staying. 5. The remains were identified as missing teenager Celeste Rivas. After an investigation by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner on September 9, the body was identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas. Her cause of death was reported as "deferred." Rivas had initially been reported missing on April 5, 2024. 6. D4vd's Withered Tour has been suspended, and his deluxe album has been held. Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Coachella Burke continued performances for his Withered tour through September 15, with concerts taking place amid the investigation in Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Portland.
However, following the identification of Rivas's body, Burke's concert at the venue Showbox Sodo in Seattle - initially scheduled for September 17 - was canceled. The remainder of the Withered tour, which was scheduled to move internationally in October, has largely been canceled in light of the investigation int