When D4vd, the 21-year-old rising R&B star known for his haunting hit "Romantic Homicide," became the focus of a homicide investigation, the music world stopped spinning. It wasn’t just another celebrity scandal. It was the chilling collapse of a missing girl’s case into something far darker — and far more personal. On November 19, 2025, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives, working with KTLA reporter Mary Beth McDade, confirmed D4vd — whose legal name is David — is a suspect in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 15-year-old who vanished from her home in Lake Elsinore, California in April 2024. The case, officially reclassified as a homicide, now centers on a mysterious trip D4vd took to a remote stretch of Santa Barbara County in the spring of 2025 — a journey that, according to law enforcement sources, lasted hours and left no trace… except maybe one.
The Disappearance That Went Cold
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was last seen alive on April 12, 2024, leaving her family’s modest home in Lake Elsinore, a quiet city nestled between the Santa Ana Mountains and the Temescal Valley. Her disappearance was initially logged as a runaway case by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. No signs of struggle. No note. Just a 15-year-old girl who vanished into thin air. For over a year, her case gathered dust. Her parents held candlelight vigils. Her friends posted #FindCeleste on social media. But nothing stuck — until late 2025.Then, investigators say, digital breadcrumbs emerged. Cell tower pings. GPS data from a car rental. And a single, unexplained trip — 120 miles northwest of Lake Elsinore — to a wooded, unmonitored stretch of land near Gaviota State Park. D4vd, then 20, was reportedly there alone, around 2 a.m. on May 17, 2025. He stayed for five hours. No hotel. No witnesses. No public record of why he went. But the timing? That’s what made detectives sit up. It was just weeks after Celeste’s last known contact with anyone.
The Trip That Changed Everything
"I CAN SHARE. KTLA HAS CONFIRMED FROM SOURCES THAT LAPD DETECTIVES ARE LOOKING AT DAVID AS A SUSPECT," the anchor said during the November 19, 2025, 5 p.m. newscast. The words echoed across Southern California. TMZ had broken the story the day before, citing an anonymous source familiar with the investigation. KTLA, a station that’s been covering LA crime since 1947, didn’t just repeat it — they confirmed it with multiple law enforcement insiders.What’s more disturbing? Reports suggest D4vd didn’t act alone. "PLUS NEW REPORTS ARE SURFACING THAT THE SINGER MAY HAVE HAD HELP DISPOSING OF HER BODY," KTLA added. That detail — unverified, but chilling — has shifted the entire scope of the investigation. Was it a friend? A roadie? Someone connected to his label, Warner Records? Authorities haven’t named anyone else, but the implication is clear: this wasn’t a crime of impulse. It was planned.
D4vd, whose music often explores themes of loss, guilt, and romanticized tragedy, had just released his sophomore album in January 2025. "Romantic Homicide," the song that catapulted him to 250 million streams, was being played on radio stations as investigators dug through his phone logs. The irony didn’t escape anyone.
Who Is D4vd — And Why Does It Matter?
Born David, the artist adopted the stage name D4vd as a nod to his love of 80s synth-pop and his own identity as a queer, first-generation Mexican-American from San Diego. He’s signed to Warner Records, which had lined up a high-profile slot at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. That booking? Now canceled. His tour dates are on hold. His label has issued no public statement — a silence that speaks volumes.He’s never been arrested. No charges have been filed. But LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division, under Commander Andrew Neiman, has opened a full forensic probe. They’re analyzing his vehicle’s GPS history, his cloud storage, and his direct messages from April 2024 through May 2025. They’re also combing the Santa Barbara site — a 300-acre stretch of chaparral and rocky ridges — with ground-penetrating radar and canine units. No body has been recovered. But they’re not giving up.
The Human Cost Behind the Headlines
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was more than a case number. She was a sophomore at Lake Elsinore High, a gifted artist who sketched portraits in the margins of her notebooks. Her mother, Maria Hernandez, told local media in 2024: "She didn’t run away. She was scared. And someone took her."Her family has been silent since November 19, but neighbors say they’ve been seen at the police station every day since. One aunt, speaking off-record, said: "We don’t want fame. We don’t want a viral moment. We just want to know where our baby is. And who did this."
The case has reignited debates about how missing Black and Brown teens are treated by law enforcement. Celeste was Latina. Her case went cold for over a year — a pattern seen too often. Only after D4vd’s name surfaced did the LAPD reassign detectives and escalate resources. That timing? It’s not lost on community advocates.
What Comes Next?
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, led by Mike Hestrin, will now decide whether to file charges. Under California Penal Code Section 187, homicide carries life in prison — or worse if aggravating factors are proven. D4vd’s legal team has not responded to requests for comment. His publicist has vanished from social media.Forensic teams are expected to return to Santa Barbara County in early December for a second sweep. Authorities are also reviewing D4vd’s flight records — he took a private jet to Las Vegas the day after his Santa Barbara trip. And his phone? It was factory reset on May 22, 2025 — five days after the trip.
For now, the world waits. The music industry holds its breath. And somewhere in the hills of Santa Barbara, investigators hope the earth will give up its secret.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is LAPD handling this case when Celeste disappeared in Riverside County?
LAPD is leading the investigation because key evidence — including D4vd’s suspicious travel to Santa Barbara County and potential digital activity — falls under their jurisdiction. While the disappearance occurred in Riverside County, the homicide probe involves suspects, locations, and digital trails tied to Los Angeles-based activity. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department remains a cooperating agency, but LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division has primary authority due to the nature of the suspect’s connections and the location of forensic evidence.
Is there any proof Celeste is dead?
No body has been recovered, and the cause of death remains unknown. However, LAPD has officially classified the case as a homicide based on circumstantial evidence: the timeline of her disappearance, D4vd’s unexplained trip, the digital footprint left behind, and the lack of any credible sightings or communications since April 2024. Under California law, a person can be charged with homicide even without a body if sufficient evidence points to death.
Could D4vd be cleared if no body is found?
Yes — but only if investigators can prove he didn’t cause her death. Without a body, prosecutors face a higher burden of proof. They’ll need to establish motive, opportunity, and a clear chain of events linking D4vd to her demise. Digital evidence, witness testimony, and forensic analysis of the Santa Barbara site will be critical. If no physical evidence ties him to her death, charges may be dropped — but the public suspicion and career damage may be irreversible.
What role did Warner Records play in this situation?
Warner Records has remained publicly silent, which is typical during active criminal investigations. The label canceled D4vd’s Coachella 2026 slot and paused all promotional activity, suggesting internal concern. While there’s no evidence they were involved in the crime, industry insiders say label managers have been reviewing contracts for "moral clause" provisions that could allow termination if an artist is charged with a felony. Their silence is strategic — but it’s also a de facto admission that the situation is untenable.
Why did it take over a year for this case to become a homicide?
Initially, Celeste’s disappearance was treated as a runaway case — a common outcome for teens, especially those from low-income families. The shift to homicide came only after new evidence emerged in late 2025: digital footprints placing D4vd near the last known location of Celeste’s phone, and his unexplained trip to Santa Barbara. The LAPD’s review of his communications and travel records triggered a full forensic re-examination. It wasn’t negligence — it was the absence of leads. Now, with a suspect, the case has been elevated.
How can the public help with the investigation?
LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division has an active tip line: (213) 972-2910, case #25-111901. They’re especially seeking anyone who remembers seeing D4vd’s vehicle in the Gaviota area during May 2025, or anyone who received unusual messages from him around the time of the disappearance. Anonymous tips are accepted. Even small details — a license plate, a voice on the phone, a social media post — could be the break they need.
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