Vigil Held For Teen Found In Singer's Tesla As Questions Circle About Investigation

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Community members gathered in a candlelight vigil to honor Celeste Rivas in her hometown of Lake Elsinore on Sunday. Both mourners and the curious gathered to remember the teen whose remains were found in the trunk of a car registered in Texas to singer D4vd.

The performing career of the singer, who has been tied to Celeste in numerous social media posts, and whose given name is David Anthony Burke, appears to have come to a halt. His likeness has been removed from brand sponsorships that include Crocs, Hollister, and Fortnite in recent days due to the investigation, brand owners say.

At Sunday's vigil, several people expressed grief and suspicion over the singer in Celeste's death, even as supporters donated to a GoFundMe website established in Celeste's memory. That fundraiser has gathered over $24,000 as of Monday.

"I'm feeling heartbroken, devastated for hearing about the news. I didn't know Celeste personally but it hits home," Lake Elsinore resident Gabriela Flores told KABC 7.

A neighbor recalled seeing Celeste walking home from school before she ran away, a behavior she had exhibited before, according to her family.

"Even though I didn't know her, I just couldn't even breathe, knowing that a child had to go through that," Kayleigh Cortez told KABC, Channel 7.

"My nephew went to school with her since kindergarten and I just want to say as a... if it was my daughter, I wouldn't want her to be forgotten. I just want justice for this little girl because whatever happened to her wasn't just an accident... I don't want her to be forgotten," said another resident.

Burke reportedly has a tattoo that matches the one reading "Shhh" that the Los Angeles County medical examiner revealed was on Celeste's index finger.

A representative for the singer has said that his client is cooperating with the investigation; however, no further details have been released.

The investigation into Celestes's death, her body found in a Hollywood tow yard in the front trunk of a Tesla owned by Burke, was ongoing.

Los Angeles officials have described her body as "severely decomposed, suggesting she died while she was still 14 at the time of her death, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The vehicle had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for an extended period before it was towed to an official police impound lot.

Celeste was first reported missing by her mother in April of 2024, when the girl was just 13, leaving her home wearing Hello Kitty crocs. Her remains were found on Sept. 8, a day after what would have been her 15th birthday. It was not immediately clear how old she was when she died, or what her actual cause of death was, as official reports have not yet been released.

The Tesla had been abandoned near a home in the 1300 block of Doheny Place, not far from a home Burke AKA D4vd had rented.

Last week, police served a search warrant at the house. They took numerous undisclosed items as possible evidence in the ongoing investigation into the girl's death, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Burke was in the last leg of a U.S. tour when Celeste's body was discovered. Several shows were cancelled, including one that had been scheduled for Saturday night at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre.

According to various reports, his label, Interscope Records, has halted all promotion of Burke as D4vd's latest record, "Withered," and a deluxe version of the LP that was set to drop Friday.

Questions of whether Burke would be removed from a Fortnite campaign remained after the singer also dropped by sponsors Hollister and Crocs' "Dream Drop" collection during the investigation, according to a statement revealed by Footwear News, where they stated, "We are aware of the investigation."

According to the Times, Burke was cooperating with officials but has since retained legal counsel. No arrests have yet been made in the investigation.

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Teen Whose Body Was Found In Singer's Car, Remembered 1 Year After Reported Missing