It has been a grim turn of events for the 20-year old artist behind the viral tune “Romantic Homicide.”
Homeschooled David Anthony Burke, better known as D4vd, is no stranger to making headlines for his unconventional rise to pop prominence, but this week, his name appeared in headline news alerts for a far more tragic situation, and has made him far more famous for far more interesting reasons.
On 8 September, workers at a Hollywood tow yard traced a foul odor to a Tesla impounded two days earlier. In the vehicle’s front trunk, Los Angeles police discovered a bag containing the severely decomposed remains of a teenage girl. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has since identified the victim as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, with an iconic tattoo “Shhh…”, who had been reported missing earlier since May 2024. The tattoo, “Shhh…” was also coincidentally also found on D4vd, although it is found similarly on many other celebrities with the same tattoo on their index fingers. Authorities have yet to determine a cause or manner of death, though the case is being treated as a potential homicide.
The car is registered to D4vd, who is fully cooperating with investigators. In statements relayed through his representatives, the singer has not been named a suspect and nor has there been further information provided about how his vehicle ended up at the location. Police have not disclosed who last drove the car before it was towed.
For fans and music enthusiasts, who first discovered D4vd through an online music creation tool platform, the juxtaposition is jarring. His story, widely marketed, as his music career started from recording tracks on his iPhone in his sister’s closet, after trying to avoid copyright strikes on his gaming videos; inspired thousands of bedroom producers. “Romantic Homicide” became a multi-platinum hit in 2022 and landed on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing him as one of Gen Z’s most DIY success stories. He has built a reputation for raw, emotive vocals and fantasy-tinged storytelling rather than headline-grabbing scandal.
But in the days since the grisly discovery, his comment sections have filled with confusion and speculation. Clips of his music are being reposted alongside breaking-news segments. Some fans express sympathy for both the victim’s family and for D4vd, who cancelled his show in Seattle today; whilst others warn against conflating his music with a criminal investigation whose facts remain unsettled. With a massive controversy looming, Crocs and Hollister have dropped him from all their brand campaigns, since the investigation began.
For now, the spotlight has shifted from streaming numbers to the somber task of finding answers for a teenage girl whose life ended far too soon. Detectives are piecing together a timeline of her disappearance, how she ended up in the vehicle, and who may be responsible for her death. Until the medical examiner’s report and further police updates arrive, the only certainty is that a family is grieving and a young artist’s career narrative has been abruptly, and involuntarily, intertwined with a tragedy on the streets of Los Angeles.
Depending on the verdict, it is an opportune time to consider “Son of Sam” statutes, designed to stop alleged criminals or convicted criminals from cashing in on the publicity of their crimes, typically cover books, interviews or movies about the offence. They do not automatically seize royalties from songs, albums or productions created long before the crime, or from music that would not be tied to the offence itself. For a victim’s family or estate to redirect those for justice, they would usually need to bring a civil action or reach a settlement with the rights holders.
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