It started with a car. A black 2023 Tesla Model S, abandoned near S La Brea and W Florence in South Los Angeles, its trunk jammed with something too heavy, too quiet, to ignore. When LAPD opened it on September 17, 2025, they found not just a body—but pieces of one. Now, nearly two months later, the name tied to that car isn’t just a suspect. It’s a star: David Andrew Boyd, known professionally as D4vd, the 20-year-old R&B artist whose haunting song "Romantic Homicide" went viral in 2024. The victim? Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 15-year-old sophomore at Santee Education Complex High School, last seen alive on September 2, 2025. The case, LAPD #25-0917-0543, has exploded into one of the most chilling entertainment-related investigations in recent memory.
The Discovery That Shook Los Angeles
The Tesla sat untouched for 14 days after being reported abandoned by a gas station attendant. When detectives finally processed it, they found human remains in the trunk, rear seat, and even under the floor mats. The body had been dismembered with surgical precision—no signs of struggle in the vehicle, no blood spatter beyond what was contained. It was methodical. Cold. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office completed the autopsy on October 5, 2025, but toxicology and ballistic reports remain pending. "We’re waiting on lab results that could take weeks," said Coroner’s spokesperson Ed Winter on November 19. "The manner of death is undetermined until then."
What made the case escalate from missing persons to homicide wasn’t just the body—it was the digital trail. Cell tower data placed Celeste near D4vd’s home in the San Fernando Valley on September 1, 2025. Surveillance footage from a nearby 7-Eleven showed a man matching Boyd’s build loading a large duffel bag into his Tesla on September 2. The same vehicle was seen leaving the area at 11:47 p.m. that night. By September 15, the car was parked on the street in South L.A.—and never moved again.
Who Is D4vd? And Why Does It Matter?
David Andrew Boyd, born June 15, 2005, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, wasn’t just any rising artist. He was a Gen Z sensation. His debut single, "Romantic Homicide," amassed over 400 million streams by mid-2025. He sold out venues from Brooklyn to Berlin. His manager, Artist Publishing Group, based in New York, had booked him for the Rolling Loud Music Festival in Miami on December 13, 2025. His fanbase? Mostly teenage girls. His lyrics? Often dark, poetic, obsessed with loss and silence.
"He wrote songs about burying people in the back of cars," said one 16-year-old fan on TikTok, before deleting the post. "I thought it was just metaphor. Now I’m not so sure."
On November 19, 2025, Artist Publishing Group suspended all of D4vd’s tour dates indefinitely. His social media accounts went dark. His lawyer, Mark Geragos of Geragos & Geragos, didn’t respond to KTLA’s requests for comment. Neither did his family. The silence speaks louder than any statement ever could.
The Investigation: Who Else Might Be Involved?
LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division, led by Sergeant Maria Lopez (badge #18944) and Detective James Wilson (badge #20477), has confirmed they’re exploring whether Boyd had help. TMZ reports investigators are examining at least two other individuals—possibly a friend, possibly a crew member—who may have assisted in moving the body. One source told KTLA: "This wasn’t a one-man job. You don’t dismember a teenager, pack her in a car, and drive around for two weeks without someone noticing something’s off."
Forensic teams recovered latent prints, DNA samples, and a single fiber from a dark hoodie found under the driver’s seat—none matching Boyd. That’s the twist: the evidence doesn’t fully point to him alone. And that’s what makes this case so unnerving. Was he the mastermind? Or just the face of it?
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office issued a terse statement: "The police have not presented the case to our office so at this point I cannot anticipate one way or the other whether or not charges will be filed." Translation? There’s still a lot missing. No arrest warrant has been issued. No formal charges filed. But the investigation is active—and growing.
The Ripple Effect: Fame, Fear, and the Dark Side of Virality
This isn’t just a murder case. It’s a cultural reckoning. D4vd’s music thrived on aestheticized tragedy—lyrics about dead lovers, hidden graves, emotional silence. His fans didn’t just listen; they identified with the pain. Now, that art is being scrutinized as a possible blueprint.
"There’s a dangerous myth that art is just art," said Dr. Lillian Cho, a media psychologist at UCLA. "But when a teenager’s entire identity is built around consuming dark themes from someone who later becomes a suspect in a real-life dismemberment, it forces us to ask: Did the art inspire the crime? Or did the crime give the art its chilling authenticity?"
Santee Education Complex High School held a memorial for Celeste on November 10, 2025. Over 500 students attended. Her parents, who have not spoken publicly, reportedly requested no media presence. The school district confirmed she was an honors student with dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse.
What’s Next?
The next critical milestone? The toxicology report. If drugs or sedatives were found in Celeste’s system, it could change the entire narrative. If the DNA from the hoodie matches someone connected to D4vd’s tour crew, the investigation could expand rapidly. And if the DA decides to file charges, it will be one of the most high-profile entertainment criminal cases since the Michael Jackson trial.
For now, the Tesla sits in the LAPD Property Division impound lot at 1710 E 5th St, still sealed, still evidence. The case remains open. The world waits. And somewhere, a 15-year-old girl’s family still doesn’t have answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t D4vd been arrested yet?
As of November 19, 2025, LAPD has not presented sufficient evidence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to justify an arrest warrant. While D4vd is the primary suspect, forensic evidence—including DNA from an unknown hoodie and unexplained digital gaps—suggests possible accomplices. Prosecutors need conclusive proof of intent and direct involvement before filing charges.
How did Celeste Rivas Hernandez disappear without anyone noticing?
Celeste was last seen alive on September 2, 2025, leaving Santee Education Complex High School. Cell records show her phone was near D4vd’s residence that night, but no witnesses have come forward. Her family didn’t report her missing until September 3 because she often stayed overnight with friends. Social media activity ceased abruptly after September 2, but without a clear trail, the case went unnoticed until the Tesla was found two weeks later.
What role did social media play in this case?
D4vd’s music and aesthetic—dark, romanticized violence—resonated deeply with Gen Z fans. His lyrics about "burying love in the trunk" and "silence after the scream" became memes and fan art. After the body was found, users began reposting his songs alongside Celeste’s photo, creating a disturbing cultural echo. This has sparked debates about whether online content can normalize real violence, especially when the artist becomes a suspect.
Could this affect other artists with dark themes?
Absolutely. Artists like XXXTentacion, Juice WRLD, and even Billie Eilish have faced scrutiny for lyrical content. But this case is different: it involves a real victim, dismemberment, and a direct link between the suspect’s vehicle and the crime scene. Record labels may now require content audits, and streaming platforms could flag lyrics with violent imagery. The line between art and advocacy is blurring—and the legal system is watching.
What happens if the toxicology report shows drugs in Celeste’s system?
If sedatives or controlled substances are found, it could suggest she was incapacitated before being killed—potentially pointing to premeditation. But it wouldn’t excuse the crime. Even if she was drugged, dismemberment and concealment still constitute murder. Prosecutors would likely argue the drugs were used to facilitate the crime, not to prove consent or accident. The presence of drugs may, however, influence sentencing if charges are filed.
Is the Rolling Loud Music Festival still happening?
Yes. The Rolling Loud Music Festival in Miami is scheduled for December 13, 2025. But D4vd has been removed from the lineup. His management confirmed his suspension indefinitely. Other artists on the bill have not publicly commented. Festival organizers say they’re monitoring the situation but have no plans to cancel or postpone the event.