D4VD BOMBSHELL: MISSING CELESTE,13,DECOMPOSED AND DISMEMBERED IN MUSIC STAR'S TESLA
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Celeste Rivas, 13, was found severely decomposed and partially dismembered in the frunk of D4VD's Tesla Model Y.
- ❖The Tesla, with Texas plates and a dent, was abandoned for weeks in Hollywood Hills before being reported.
- ❖Celeste was forensically identified via unique tattoos, including one that read 'sh' on her finger, matching a tattoo D4VD reportedly has.
- ❖Celeste ran away from home multiple times, reportedly to be with D4VD, who she met online when she was 13.
- ❖D4VD's song 'Romantic Homicide' and blood-spattered merchandise raised concerns, with items later removed from his online presence.
- ❖D4VD continued touring for weeks after the body was found, only canceling when Celeste was identified.
- ❖Police believe Celeste died in the spring, coinciding with a mysterious late-night road trip D4VD took to a remote area of Santa Barbara County.
- ❖Opiate prescription bottles and drug paraphernalia were found in D4VD's rented mansion, where multiple people reportedly lived or frequented.
- ❖A female witness, represented by the same attorney as D4VD's manager, is refusing to testify before a grand jury in the case.
Insights
1Discovery and Initial Identification Challenges
Celeste Rivas's body was found in a severely decomposed and partially dismembered state in the front trunk (frunk) of a dusty 2023 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle had been parked on a Hollywood Hills street for a month, prompting neighbor complaints about a foul odor. Due to the advanced decomposition, Celeste, who weighed 120 lbs in life but only 70 lbs when found, had to be forensically identified, primarily through specific tattoos, including a small 'sh' on her finger and 'David' on her ring finger.
Residents reported a dusty Tesla parked for a month (), foul odor led to police discovery (), body found in frunk (), severely decomposed and partially dismembered (), forensically identified (), Celeste's weight in life was 120 lbs, remains 70 lbs (), identified by 'sh' tattoo on finger () and 'David' on ring finger ().
2D4VD's Content and Behavior Under Scrutiny
The music artist D4VD (David Anthony Burke), whose Tesla contained Celeste's body, faced intense scrutiny for his song lyrics, social media posts, and merchandise. His multi-platinum song 'Romantic Homicide' contains lyrics like 'In the back of my mind, I killed you and I didn't even regret it.' He also posted a video depicting meat chopping with the caption 'me if I see her talk with other dudes' and sold blood-spattered shirts. Many of these items and posts were reportedly removed after the body's discovery, and D4VD's tour was canceled only after public outcry following Celeste's identification.
D4VD reposted a video 'me if I see her talk with other dudes' (), 'Romantic Homicide' lyrics include 'In the back of my mind, I killed you' (), D4VD's explanation of lyrics (), blood-spattered shirts offered online (), images removed (), tour canceled the day body identified (), continued touring for weeks until outcry ().
3Revised Timeline and Suspect Focus
Investigators now believe Celeste likely died in the spring, not closer to the body's discovery in September. This revised timeline coincides with a road trip D4VD reportedly took to a remote area of Santa Barbara County in the spring, where he stayed for several hours. This new information has led police to tentatively treat the death as a possible homicide and view D4VD as a suspect. Surveillance footage from neighbors and D4VD's rental property owner's private investigator helped establish the Tesla's movement, showing it was moved to its final abandoned spot on July 29th, already dirty.
Police believe Celeste died in the spring (), death treated as possible homicide (), D4VD took a road trip to a remote area in Santa Barbara in the spring (), stayed for hours (), private investigator Steve Fiser used surveillance video (), Tesla moved to last spot July 29th, 11 AM (), already dirty ().
4Evidence from D4VD's Mansion and Witness Issues
A search warrant at D4VD's $20,000/month rented mansion, previously owned by Halle Berry, uncovered bottles of prescription opiate pain medication (hydrocodone, Lortab) and drug paraphernalia. The mansion reportedly had multiple people living in and out, suggesting a 'Grand Central Station' environment. D4VD broke his lease and fled the mansion after the search. Furthermore, a state's female witness, represented by the same attorney as D4VD's manager, is refusing to testify before a grand jury, potentially facing jail time for recalcitrance. D4VD's manager, Robert Morgan Roth, reportedly stated he didn't feel a duty to call police after the body was found because they were on tour.
D4VD fled his mansion, breaking lease (), police served search warrant looking for blood (), mansion owner hired private investigator (), bottles of prescription pain medication and drug paraphernalia found (), opiate prescription medication (), multiple people living in and out (, ), female witness refusing to testify (), same lawyer as record exec (), Robert Morgan Roth testified, said he didn't need to call police, didn't want to jeopardize tour ().
Lessons
- Parents should actively monitor their children's online interactions, especially with adults, and be aware of potential grooming risks.
- If you have any information regarding the death of Celeste Rivas, contact LAPD at 213-486-6890 to assist the ongoing investigation.
- Be vigilant about abandoned vehicles in your neighborhood and report suspicious activity or foul odors to local authorities promptly.
Quotes
"In the back of my mind, I killed you and I didn't even regret it. I can't believe I said it. But it's true. Do I love you? No. I hate you. In the back of my mind, you died and I didn't even cry. No. Not a single tear."
"I didn't even feel like I needed to be calling the the police after the after she was found dead because we were on tour. I I didn't want to jeopardize the tour."
"You can run, but you can't hide. That female prosecutor knows you, your name, your do, your SSN, social security number, your address, your mama's name, your brother's name, your boyfriend's name, your tag number. Go ahead, go in. go under oath and tell the truth. A little girl is dead and you're refusing to testify."
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