Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: SINGER D4VD FLEES $20K/MONTH HOME, ‘BLOOD-SOAKED’ VIDEO AFTER TEEN GIRL DEAD IN HIS TESLA
Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

Main Theme

Nancy Grace investigates the tragic and shocking case of singer David Anthony Burke (“D4VD”), whose 13-year-old girlfriend, Celeste Rivas, was found murdered and decomposing in the trunk of his Tesla in Hollywood Hills. As rumors swirl, a “blood-soaked” music video emerges, and D4VD flees his $20,000/month mansion. The episode dives deep into the investigation, the evidence, potential timelines, legal implications, and the psychology at play.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Victim Background & Timeline Construction

• Celeste Rivas, age 13, found dead in the trunk of D4VD's (David Burke’s) Tesla. The car had been left apparently abandoned on a street in the Hollywood Hills for weeks (04:36, 04:38).
• Witnesses and online evidence suggest Celeste was last seen alive at a D4VD concert in Maryland on August 24th (07:20); her body was discovered September 8th (04:36), and the Tesla was reported abandoned around September 3rd (07:20).
• Nancy Grace emphasizes how critical timeline creation is for homicide investigations, as it establishes and negates suspect alibis (03:34).

“An integral part of any homicide investigation is a timeline. It’s critical.”
— Nancy Grace [02:41]

2. Living Arrangements and Relationship History

• Celeste was once living with her family in Lake Elsinore but had been residing with David Burke (D4VD), a grown man, much earlier. Allegedly, their relationship began when she was just 11 (05:43).
• Neighbors verified her presence at Burke's house; rumors suggest she moved in long before her disappearance (05:43, 30:31).

3. Discovery of the Body and Initial Forensic Analysis

• Celeste's body was found wearing a black tube top and ripped jeans, about 75 miles from her former home, allegedly dismembered and advanced in decomposition (05:38, 09:26, 41:12).
• Dr. Kendall Crowns, forensic pathologist, describes how decomposition can obscure cause of death (COD), but not completely. He discusses the use of forensic entomology (study of insects like blowflies) to estimate time since death (09:26, 11:18).

“With individuals that... have been murdered and then not found for a period of time... you can have a significant amount of decomposition occur where the body begins to bloat ...almost gets a black color.”
— Dr. Kendall Crowns [09:26]

4. Evidence and Investigation Procedure: The Tesla and Crime Scene Management

• Crime scene consultant Tammy Ballard details how forensic teams would need to disassemble the Tesla — checking seats, foam, undercarriage, and ceiling — for hidden blood evidence, especially if dismemberment or heavy bleeding occurred (21:40–27:56).
• Even with attempted cleanups, blood can saturate vehicle components and be detected by thorough forensic analysis (24:35, 27:25).

“Literally pulling those seats out, cutting through that material and making sure that there is not blood saturated through onto that foam…”
— Tammy Ballard [21:57]

5. D4VD’s Flight from the Mansion & Police Search

• D4VD fled his leased $3M Hollywood Hills mansion after police searched for evidence. The lease, signed by his manager, was broken, raising suspicions. The home was previously owned by Halle Berry (28:30, 29:15).
• Police searches included electronic devices to build a forensic pathway of the relationship and to possibly establish motive or timeline (30:01).

“After the raid... they didn’t want to live there anymore and are breaking the lease.”
— Dave Mack [29:15]

6. Digital Forensics: Video Evidence & Security Cameras

• The team discussed the abundance of security cameras (Ring, CCTV, Tesla’s onboard cameras) in the area. Police are analyzing footage for possible movement of Celeste's body, the Tesla, or the perpetrator (32:08–38:08).
• There’s debate about the importance and recoverability of deleted surveillance footage, with experts emphasizing that “the best of the best” are already involved in the investigation (35:52).

7. Role of D4VD’s Music Videos and Lyrics

• A “blood-soaked” music video surfaced online showing an artist lookalike dragging a bloody body into a car trunk (13:44). The defense (Troy Slayton) argues this is merely artistic expression, not evidence of guilt; prosecution and psychological experts see parallels to actual events, highlighting themes of control and dominance (14:39, 17:21).
• Lyrics from a Burke song directly reference “blood to spill all over the new car seats”—lyrics now eerily connected to the crime scene (20:32).

“We got blood to spill all over the new car seats that I’m sleeping on.”
— Nancy Grace reading Burke’s lyrics [20:32]

8. Speculation about “Two Celestes”

• Online theories have emerged about “two Celestes” — one, the 13-year-old victim, and another, an adult (Celeste Herrera, age 23), with whom Burke interacts online. Allegations suggest Burke is obsessed and may have sought out a lookalike after Celeste’s death (42:41).

9. Legal and Psychiatric Analysis

• Defense claims art and performance cannot equate to culpability; asserts that there might be reasonable doubt about D4VD’s knowledge of Celeste’s age, particularly if she had fake IDs (45:44).
• Psychiatrist Dr. Angela Arnold interprets D4VD’s behavior, lyrics, and video as exhibiting signs of “hyper-masculinity, control, and dominance” rather than mere artistry (17:21, 44:15).

10. Current Status, Key Questions, and Public Call to Action

• No arrest has been made; D4VD remains innocent until proven guilty as Nancy Grace repeatedly reminds listeners (47:12).
• The LAPD's elite Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the case, and all major electronic and video evidence is being processed closely with prosecution (36:31–36:53).
• Listeners are urged to call in with tips (213-486-6890).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You could smell the trunk as you approached the Tesla. How could somebody put a 13-year-old little girl in a trunk and leave the car there for weeks on end?”
  — Nancy Grace [02:13]
• “Who should I believe, them or my lying eyes?”
  — Nancy Grace, on debate over video evidence (06:56)
• “Well, by doing a complete autopsy, they’ll be able to evaluate the body for injuries and any fractures...”
  — Dr. Kendall Crowns [10:34]
• “You want to see what has wicked through possible seats. Because a lot of the cleaning that gets done doesn’t actually get rid of any of the blood...”
  — Tammy Ballard [21:53]
• “I want to remind everyone... The musician known as David, his real name is David Anthony Burke, is innocent. He stands innocent tonight...”
  — Nancy Grace [47:12]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Timeline analysis with body discovery details: [04:36]
• Discussion of TikTok video as timeline evidence: [07:20]
• Medical examiner on decomposition and forensic entomology: [09:26–12:29]
• Debate over impact of “art” and blood-soaked video: [13:44–17:21]
• Lyrics analysis and their relevance: [20:32, 44:44]
• Detailed forensics of vehicle and scene: [21:40–27:56]
• Burke’s flight from mansion, search warrant, and legal angles: [28:30–32:00]
• Security cam and digital video evidence: [32:46–38:08]
• Legal, forensic, and psychiatric summations: [40:01–47:12]

Tone

Direct, investigative, relentless, and occasionally confrontational, Nancy Grace delivers with her characteristic fervor—asking tough questions, challenging legal defenses, and driving the urgency of finding justice for Celeste. The expert panel provides analytic, sometimes clinical, insights, balancing Grace’s emotional approach with detailed professional experience.

Summary Value

This episode provides a comprehensive, real-time look at a disturbing Hollywood true crime, explaining not just what happened but how investigators unravel the truth using forensics, digital evidence, and expert analysis. It highlights the dangers of predatory relationships, the dark intersections of art and life, and the persistent need for vigilance and public assistance in seeking justice.

If you have any information about Celeste Rivas’s case, please contact LAPD at 213-486-6890. Tips can be anonymous.