Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

Episode: Wild New Twist in D4vd Scandal: Cops Swarm D4vd's Home & Celeste’s Ex-Boyfriend Tells All

Date: October 1, 2025

Overview

In this gripping episode, Ashleigh Banfield dives into the latest twists in the tragic and controversial case involving rising music star David Anthony Burke (professional alias: D4vd) and his underage girlfriend, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposing body was discovered in the front trunk of Burke's abandoned Tesla. Ashleigh brings listeners up to speed with breaking developments: a swatting incident at David’s family home, new testimony from Celeste’s ex-boyfriend, exclusive interviews, and evolving details about Celeste's last year alive. The episode teems with Banfield's trademark blend of irreverence and journalistic rigor as she questions timelines, motives, and the slow grind of justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Swatting Incident at David Burke’s Family Home

• Swatting Breakdown
  Police with guns drawn responded to a 911 call about a "shooting and a dead body" at Burke’s family home in Houston on September 18. The call was a hoax intended to provoke an armed police response, a phenomenon known as "swatting."
  [03:07] Police Officer: “We got a phone call from here saying that somebody was dead … There was a gunshot and a woman scream.”

• Banfield highlights the timing: this happened one day after LAPD raided David’s Hollywood Hills rental for evidence in Celeste’s case.
  [04:49] "Police stuck around for less than 20 minutes, and it did not appear that David was there."

• Question Raised:
  Is the swatting a coincidence or a reaction to the raid in LA? Banfield notes the timing is suspicious and speculates whether the prank was meant to flush David out if people believed he fled to Texas.

2. Details of the LAPD Hollywood Hills Mansion Raid

• September 17 Raid:
  LAPD searched David’s LA rental for "blood evidence" in a raid that lasted 12 hours (no charges filed as of recording).

3. Updates on Celeste and David’s Relationship

• Timeline Clarified:
  Social media clues (matching tattoos, David’s song “Celeste”) led to confirmation (via TMZ, friends) they were indeed in a romantic relationship—illegal due to her age and likely without parental consent.

• Legal Complexity:
  In some states, relationships between 14-year-olds and adults may skirt statutory rape laws if parents consent, but that was not the case here.

• Banfield on the Crime:
  [06:16] "We've got this child who’s decomposing in the trunk … for weeks and weeks, likely upwards of a month or more … and no one's been arrested, nothing. There’s been no resolution to this obvious crime."

  • Highlights that while murder is not confirmed, disposing of a body is itself a felony but with a drastically lower sentence than homicide.

4. Celeste's Life Before Running Away: Testimony from Ex-Boyfriend

• Damian Hernandez’s Interview (TMZ Clip):
  Damian, 15, says he dated Celeste before she ran away to David. Confirms she talked of running away due to unhappiness at home.
  [09:54] Damian: “We were at PE and she told me and my friend she was running away… because of her parents. She was, like, happy joking like she always was… The next day, she wasn’t at school. And that’s the last time I saw her.”
  • Damian’s reaction to the news of Celeste’s death is one of shock and disbelief.
    [10:27] Damian: “My heart dropped. I just couldn’t believe it... When I saw it really was her, I was like, damn, I really knew.”
• Home Life Issues:
  Damian relays Celeste described her family as "mean," but no accusation of abuse.
  [09:18] Damian: “She said how her mom didn’t treat her well or whatever, and she didn’t like where she was at.”

5. Revelations from New Video Evidence: Celeste’s Timeline Rewritten

• September 8, 2024 Nest Cam Video:
  Shows Celeste at her parents’ house four months after her family claimed she'd disappeared—contradicting previous reports.
  [12:39] Banfield: “This video seems to prove that Celeste visited her family at least one time after she ran away.”

• Implications:
  Raises new questions about her actual timeline, frequency of visits home, and possible family awareness of her whereabouts.

6. Analysis with Charles Ladibodier (TMZ, Executive Producer)

• Swatting Motivation & Investigation:
  [14:05] Ladibodier: “It does seem strange to say this is coincidence... This was likely someone who's been watching the investigation and has strong feelings about it and decided to prank the home where his parents live, perhaps even doing it thinking that David was there.”

• Who Was Home?
  Banfield and Ladibodier sift through police body cam footage and parents’ statements. Confusion over whether David was present is discussed. Real conclusion: Probably only his minor siblings were home.

• David’s Mom’s Role:
  Banfield and Ladibodier debate whether David’s mother could have known what her son was doing, given her involvement in his early career; consensus: likely not to have known everything once David turned 18 and gained more independence.

7. Complications in the Investigation

• Celeste’s Social Circle:
  Banfield and Ladibodier discuss the reluctance of Celeste’s family to speak to media and the insularity of their Lake Elsinore, CA community.

• Breakup Details:
  Damian did not seem heartbroken over Celeste leaving—more resigned—indicating perhaps a gradual emotional distancing before her deeper involvement with David.

• Crucial Ring Camera Video Discovery:
  The neighborhood knew Celeste had returned at least once, but nobody alerted authorities, assuming all was normal.
  [24:48] Ladibodier: “They assumed she had returned. … There was no concern about Celeste that the neighbors detected when they went and spoke to her parents.”

• Lingering Questions:
  Was David ever in Lake Elsinore with Celeste? Did her parents know of her relationship? Did David know her true age?
  Banfield: "[If she brought David around,] I'd be pretty angry that she’s got… a 19 year old boyfriend." [26:22]

8. Suspicious Actions After Celeste’s Disappearance

• David’s Muted Response:
  No birthday post, public acknowledgement, or indications he tried to find “missing” Celeste—odd for an alleged close friend or romantic partner. [27:37] Banfield: “There’s not one post, there’s not one mention. … This is highly suspicious for a guy who, if he has nothing to do with this, had no idea she was in the trunk.”
• Car Abandonment:
  Tesla with Celeste’s body reportedly sat abandoned for over a month before being ticketed and towed.
  [31:18] Banfield shares quote from LAPD Captain Williams confirming weeks of decomposition before Celeste found.

9. Medical Examiner’s Updates

• Cause of Death Deferred:
  Toxicology results still pending.

• Rumor Quelled:
  Celeste was not pregnant at death or in the previous year, debunking social media theories that pregnancy might have motivated her death or disposal.

  [31:56] Banfield: "Let me repeat that – she was not pregnant when she died. And guess what? They were also able to determine that she had not been pregnant in the past year."

10. Current Status of Investigation, David & His Management

• David Burke:
  – Not arrested, not named a suspect or person of interest.
  – Last seen post-raid moving out of the Hollywood Hills mansion; supposedly has gone “underground.”
  – Friends confirmed relationship with Celeste; unclear what he knew about her age.
• Manager’s Denial:
  Josh Marshall, Burke's manager, denies any involvement and claims distance from David's day-to-day affairs. Confirmation of his statements comes from podcast sources.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Swatting Incident:
  [04:19] Police Officer: “Someone's messing with us.”
• On the gravitational pull of the case:
  [00:05] Ashleigh Banfield: "If there is one word that describes how I feel about the story of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and the star named David... it's obsessed.”
• On Celeste's final days:
  [06:16] Banfield: “We've got this child who’s decomposing in the trunk … for weeks and weeks, likely upwards of a month or more … and no one's been arrested, nothing.”
• Celeste’s Ex-Boyfriend Damian on Hearing the News:
  [10:27] Damian Hernandez: “My heart dropped. I just couldn’t believe it.”
• Charles Ladibodier (TMZ Producer) on the Swatting's Intent:
  *[14:05] "It does seem strange to say this is coincidence... This was likely someone … watching the investigation and … pranking the home where his parents live, perhaps even thinking David was there.”
• Banfield on Social Media Silence:
  *[27:37] "There’s not one post, there’s not one mention. … This is highly suspicious for a guy who, if he has nothing to do with this, had no idea she was in the trunk.”

Important Timestamps

• [00:05] Episode introduction and case summary
• [03:07–04:49] Swatting incident at David’s family home (Texas), police interaction
• [06:16] Discussion of legalities and nature of Celeste and David’s relationship
• [08:55–10:50] Damian Hernandez interview: his relationship with Celeste and reaction to her death
• [12:20–12:39] Nest Cam video evidence showing Celeste at home after initial disappearance
• [13:15–17:41] Extended interview with TMZ’s Charles Ladibodier about the swatting, timeline, and David’s family
• [23:07–25:26] Breakdown of the ring cam video and community’s reaction to seeing Celeste post-disappearance
• [27:37–30:08] Banfield and Ladibodier probe the suspicious lack of action from David acknowledging Celeste’s disappearance
• [31:18] Statement from LAPD’s Captain Williams and details of body’s discovery and condition
• [31:56] Medical examiner’s revelation: Celeste not pregnant, debunking rumors

Tone & Style Observations

Ashleigh Banfield’s style is irreverent—blending tabloid energy with a reporter’s analytical eye and empathetic questioning. She’s explicit about legal uncertainties, sharply critical of official inaction, and unsparing regarding the inconsistencies in David’s narrative and the questions surrounding Celeste’s last months. Her tone pushes for accountability and scrutiny, both of the system and those orbiting the case.

Final Thoughts

The episode remains focused on the search for truth as the case teeters between internet speculation and incomplete official answers. As Banfield notes, every new day generates more questions than solutions. She pledges to remain on the case and keep delivering exclusive updates as the investigation evolves.

For listeners: This summary brings you all the criminal intrigue, community dynamics, and new revelations from the episode—while preserving Ashleigh Banfield’s dynamic true crime storytelling.