Podcast Summary: "New and Gruesome Details in D4vd Investigation"

Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Date: November 23, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes provide a harrowing update on the investigation surrounding singer D4vd (David Anthony Burke), who has become a suspect following the discovery of the decomposed and dismembered body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl, in the trunk of his car. The hosts break down the disturbing details emerging from recent leaks and official police reports, examine inconsistencies, and analyze public reaction, all the while repeatedly returning to the unanswered questions at the center of the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Developments and Escalating Details

• Initial Discovery: In September, a decomposed and dismembered body was found in the trunk of D4vd’s Tesla SUV in Southern California. At first, details were sparse from LAPD. ([03:35–04:32])
• Identification and Timeline:
  • The body was identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, reportedly just shy of her 15th birthday. Discovery date: Sept 8; her birthday: Sept 7. ([06:40–07:03])
  • Reports now suggest she may have died as early as April, implying her remains were stored for months before being found. ([05:26])
• Body Storage: Police suspect the body was dismembered and frozen for a prolonged period, which explains the delayed decomposition and lack of odor at first. ([04:32–05:26])

"What we're hearing now is it seems as though she was dismembered and then frozen... perhaps those frozen body parts were moved into the front trunk of his Tesla SUV and they literally started to melt."
—Amy Robach [05:00–06:20]

2. D4vd’s Status and Public Reaction

• Suspect Status: D4vd is now officially listed as a suspect.
• Tour and Public Appearances: He continued to tour immediately after the body was found and after identification; only after public and media connection to the case did he cancel remaining dates. ([08:21–10:17])
• Silence: D4vd has made no personal statements; only initial comments from his representatives stated cooperation with police, which law enforcement now disputes. ([10:51–11:08])

"We have not heard a peep out of him personally. Not a peep, a comment about any of this."
—TJ Holmes [10:37–10:51]

3. Forensic and Investigative Hurdles

• Cause of Death: Reports differ—TMZ claimed it may never be determined, but local outlets cite the medical examiner expects results in "days to weeks," at which point the investigation would "move quickly". ([11:08–12:19])
• Challenges: Initial confusion about the body’s gender due to decomposition; speculation centers on toxicology reports which could rule out or bolster charges. ([12:19–14:07])

"As soon as they determine that cause of death, things will start moving quickly. That was the quote they gave an investigator telling their reporter."
—Amy Robach [11:39–12:19]

4. Gruesome Specifics

• Condition of Remains: The body was reportedly decapitated, limbs cut off (themselves further dismembered), torso intact.
• Police Theories: Due to the body’s condition, police believe the dismemberment was likely not the work of a single person. ([22:02–22:45])

"Police have said it was... because of the way her body was dismembered, they don't think one person could have done it alone."
—Amy Robach [22:02–22:45]

5. Motive, Logic, and Alternative Narratives

• Puzzling Behavior: Why would someone conceal a body for months, only to leave it in their own car parked near their home while going on tour?
• Possibility of a Frame or Accomplice:
  • Could someone else have moved the body to the car in his absence to frame him or out of malice?
  • Theory arises from Robach: "Nobody is that dumb."
• Previous Disruptions: Celeste had been reported missing multiple times from ages 11–13, indicating pre-existing turmoil in her life. ([24:32–24:42])

"Nobody is that dumb... that is the best defense I have heard for the possibility of him having nothing to do with anything."
—TJ Holmes [21:01–21:49]

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On the Incomprehensible Brutality:

  • "I can't get my head around who has that in them to do that to any human body? But to go through all that work... to then put it in a car registered to you?"
    —Amy Robach [22:02–23:37]

• On the Case's Tragedy:

  • "A tragedy before the tragedy. It was. God, this poor girl."
    —TJ Holmes [24:42]

• On Suspect’s Presumed Innocence:

  • "He is an innocent man until otherwise proven guilty. But it's a fascinating case. It's a sad one. It's a tragic one. It was tragic before this young girl died."
    —TJ Holmes [23:37–24:32]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• First Detailed Recap & Newest Gruesome Updates: [03:15–06:26]
• Victim's Identity and Timeline: [06:40–08:21]
• D4vd’s Name, Age, and Career Context: [07:42–08:21]
• Post-Discovery Tour Details: [08:21–10:17]
• Discussion of Silence/Public Reaction: [10:17–11:08]
• Contradictory Theories on Cause of Death: [11:08–12:19]
• Explanation of Forensic and Investigative Issues: [12:19–14:07]
• Defense: “Nobody Is that Dumb” and Possible Frame-Up: [20:54–23:37]
• Celeste’s Troubled History and Final Reflections: [24:32–24:42]

Conclusion and Ongoing Questions

The episode highlights the dizzying combination of horror, speculation, and unresolved questions in the D4vd investigation. Amy and T.J. balance empathy for the victim with fair reminders of due process, dissecting both the evidence and the illogic that complicates assumptions about guilt. As new forensic updates loom, the hosts promise to closely follow developments in what has become a particularly confounding and disturbing case.

For future updates and in-depth analysis, stay tuned to Amy & T.J. Robach Present.