Former Laneway performer D4vd now suspect in murder of Los Angeles teen, source says

David Burke, better known as D4vd, is allegedly now being treated as a suspect in the murder of Celeste Rivas. Photo / D4vd

Former Laneway performer D4vd is now being considered a suspect in the murder of a Los Angeles teenager, two months after her remains were discovered in his car, sources claim.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) opened an investigation into the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas after her dismembered body was discovered in the boot of an impounded Tesla on September 8.

D4vd, real name David Burke, was soon linked to the vehicle, but was not formally implicated in her death when police began treating it as a homicide.

While no official paperwork has been filed, according to NBC4 Investigates, an LAPD source has confirmed the star is now being considered a suspect in Rivas’ murder.

The source also claimed the 20-year-old has not been co-operating with the inquiry, despite the previous claims of his representative.

Police are reportedly “certain they are going down the right path for a suspect”, a source told ABC News.

Her cause of death is still unknown, but based on the state of decomposition, LAPD believe Rivas’ body was in the trunk of the car for some time.

The source also told NBC4 Investigates that Burke would likely have needed an accomplice to dismember her.

An occasion when he travelled to a “remote area” in Santa Barbara County earlier in the year is allegedly being probed, according to TMZ.

It is believed the singer may have had a romantic relationship with the girl before her death.

Rivas’ family reported her missing in April 2024 after she failed to return home from a trip to the movies.

Her brother Matthew Rivas told NBCLA the then-13-year-old was attending the film with the Houston musician.

Though Burke had previously not been deemed a person of interest in the case, he cancelled his world tour in late September after the discovery of Rivas’ body.

In 2024, the Romantic Homicide singer performed in New Zealand at Laneway.