Podcast Summary

Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present

Episode: "A Dead Teenager in His Trunk, Singer D4vd (Finally) Cancels His Tour"
Date: September 19, 2025
Host: T.J. Holmes (solo, Amy Robach absent)

Overview

This episode zeroes in on the shocking and rapidly-evolving situation involving breakout music star D4vd (pronounced "David," real name David Anthony Burke), following the discovery of a teenager's dead body in the trunk of his Tesla. T.J. Holmes guides listeners through the latest updates—canceled tour, police searches, industry fallout—and wrestles with the unsettling mysteries still swirling around the case. Throughout, Holmes stresses the lack of official suspects or clear information, urging caution amid escalating online rumors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Singer D4vd: A Brief Introduction

• Real name: David Anthony Burke, 20, originally from New York, raised in Houston, TX.
• Rose to fame via posting his own music online after facing copyright issues with using others' music for gaming videos.
• Noted by Billboard as the hottest rising star under 21 (see [13:12]).

2. Timeline of the Case

• September 8:
  • Police find abandoned Tesla (registered to Burke with Texas plates) impounded in LA.
  • Days later, a foul odor leads investigators to discover a badly decomposed, “not intact” body in the trunk ([02:52]).
• Victim Identification:
  • Deceased is identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, missing since April 2024 (had been 13 when reported missing).
  • Discovery that the child was missing and the body found in the singer’s vehicle escalated the case’s gravity ([05:10]).

3. Immediate Consequences for D4vd

• Tour Cancellation:
  • D4vd’s remaining shows for the month and scheduled album extension release (for "Withered") both canceled ([02:52]).
• Industry Fallout:
  • Brand partnerships (e.g., Crocs, Hollister) have been “stepping back” and distancing themselves ([07:35]).
• Public & Social Media Scrutiny:
  • Speculation has skyrocketed online with unverified photos and rumors about D4vd’s connection to Celeste.

4. Law Enforcement & Media Updates

• Police Actions:
  • Search warrant served on a home near where the Tesla was found (home not registered to D4vd, but he had been staying there) ([03:30]).
  • No suspects or persons of interest named—D4vd described as cooperating.
• Questions Unanswered:
  • How did the car come to be abandoned?
  • Who was driving it at the time?
  • What kind of relationship (if any) existed between D4vd and Celeste ([06:15])?

5. Family’s Perspective & Identification Details

• Celeste’s Mother:
  • Had a “sneaking suspicion” upon hearing initial details ([14:12]).
  • Noted a tattoo on Celeste’s right index finger: "SHHH"—matching a tattoo seen on D4vd ([15:20]).
  • However, Holmes points out this tattoo is common and “doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”

6. Holmes’s Emphasis On Caution

• Absence of Statements:
  • D4vd’s only official comment was via a spokesperson stating he’s cooperating with authorities; D4vd himself remains silent ([16:45]).
• No Official Connection:
  • Police have not named D4vd or anyone as a suspect or person of interest.
  • Holmes consistently urges against “filling in the blanks” with social media gossip:

    “I beg you all, don't believe everything you read about this case online…there's a lot of bad information being spread out there.” — T.J. Holmes [15:55]

• Legal Perspective:
  • Silence is likely on legal advice but is fueling speculation ([16:30]).

7. Empathy & The Real Tragedy

• Victim-centered Reminder:

  “The bottom line here is that a child went missing and that child is now dead. And we don't know exactly what happened to that child.” — T.J. Holmes [18:30]

• Family has some closure but “don't know where [Celeste]’s been the past year and a half…don't know what happened to her” ([18:20]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On D4vd’s sudden career halt:

  “It has been a week of fast moving developments and it's all started with a dead body in the trunk of singer David's car.” — T.J. Holmes [02:52]

• On potential connections and the suffocating lack of information:

  “The silence has been a bit deafening and it's allowing people to fill in a lot of blanks.” — T.J. Holmes [08:25]

• A sobering summary of what really matters:

  “Folks, at the end of the day, this is, this is a tragedy...the bottom line here is that a child went missing and that child is now dead. And we don't know exactly what happened to that child. So I think everybody would like to have that answer. Nobody more so than her family.” — T.J. Holmes [18:30]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [02:52] – Introduction and rundown of the current situation with D4vd and the timeline.
• [05:10] – Details emerge about the identity of the victim and how it shifted public perception.
• [06:15] – Holmes outlines open questions about the car, last movements, and potential links.
• [07:35] – Brands and collaborators begin to dissociate from D4vd.
• [13:12] – Backstory on D4vd’s rise to fame from the gaming community to Billboard’s charts.
• [14:12]–[15:20] – Celeste Rivas’s identification and tattoo details, plus discussion of rumor pitfalls.
• [16:45] – The only official statement from D4vd’s side.
• [18:30] – Holmes highlights the human cost and enduring mysteries.

Tone and Closing Thoughts

Solo-hosted by T.J. Holmes in a measured, investigative, and empathetic tone. He consistently urges listeners not to jump to conclusions, emphasizes the lack of confirmed facts, and keeps the focus on the personal tragedy. The episode leaves listeners with more questions than answers but ensures clarity on what information is officially substantiated.

Recommended for listeners seeking a factual, compassionate update on a disturbing but sensationalized case at the intersection of pop culture and true crime.