What happens when a rising pop artist’s secret relationship with a 14‑year‑old collides with a missing‑person case—and a body found in a Tesla’s front trunk in Los Angeles? In this episode of Debate The News: True Crime, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco examine the unfolding D4vd (David Anthony Burke) & Celeste Hernandez case—an LAPD death investigation with no charges filed as of November 18, 2025. We trace the timeline from repeated runaways in 2024 to the grisly discovery in September 2025, and debate what the available facts—and gaps—really suggest.

Tune in to hear:

• Early 2024 – Runaways & a secret older “friend”: Fifteen‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez repeatedly runs away from her Lake Elsinore, CA home as her family pleads for her return. Her mother suspects an older friend named “David.”
• April 5, 2024 – Found in Hollywood: Police locate Celeste ~80 miles away in Hollywood and return her home. Family learns she had been in contact with 20‑year‑old David Anthony Burke (stage name: D4vd), and a former teacher later says Celeste spent about a month with him before police intervened.
• May 2024 – Double life intensifies: Celeste runs away again; she and David reportedly get matching “SHHH” finger tattoos. Friends claim they thought she was 19 because of fake IDs and 18+ events. She eventually returns home.
• Jan 2, 2025 – Last confirmed alive image: After this date, Celeste is scarcely seen in Lake Elsinore and is believed to have secretly rejoined David in LA as his career surges (debut album Withered releases April 2025; major tour planned).
• May–July 2025 – The Tesla starts moving: Neighbors notice David’s Tesla being shuffled to different curb spots (apparently to avoid the 72‑hour rule). On July 29, the SUV is parked one last time on Bluebird Avenue as David departs by tour bus for the first leg of the Withered Tour.
• Aug 27–Sep 5, 2025 – From chalk to tow: Tires are chalked on Aug 27; a 72‑hour citation is issued Sep 3; the Tesla is towed Sep 5 to a Hollywood impound lot.
• Sep 8, 2025 – Discovery in the frunk: A tow‑yard employee reports a powerful odor. Police open the front trunk (frunk) and find a black duffel containing the badly decomposed remains of a young female, quickly identified as Celeste—one day after what would have been her 15th birthday. The Medical Examiner cannot immediately determine cause or time of death, though she likely died weeks earlier.
• Sep 17, 2025 – Warrants & swatting: LAPD searches David’s Hollywood Hills rental, seizing electronics and personal items; a swatting hoax hits his family home in Texas the same day.
• Sep 19–24, 2025 – Career in freefall: Tour canceled by sponsors/management; his social media goes quiet; a Texas property is transferred to his mother; movers clear out the LA rental as the lease ends. Police name no suspect and suggest the only potential crime known so far could be concealment of a death if Celeste died accidentally.
• October 2025 – Defense counsel retained: David hires high‑profile attorney Blair Burke while LAPD reiterates that he’s cooperating and not charged. Public debate intensifies—fueled in part by his hit “Romantic Homicide”—but officials maintain this is a death investigation, not (yet) a homicide case.
• Late 2025 – Still unsolved: Autopsy and toxicology not released; cause of death remains undetermined. A private investigator claims security footage shows who last parked the Tesla, but LAPD hasn’t confirmed. The case remains open and complex, and David remains presumed innocent.

Debate & analysis – Accident, concealment, or murder?

Our panel explores competing theories: an accidental death followed by a cover‑up; the possibility of homicide; and whether others (an entourage member, someone with shared app access, or another party) moved the car and/or hid the body. We break down what Tesla telematics could reveal (unlock events, associated devices, frunk open/close logs), why decomposition can delay definitive autopsy findings, and how the legal distinction between a death investigation and a homicide investigation shapes public perception. We also weigh uncomfortable questions about adult‑teen power imbalances and why smell + repeated vehicle movement are key clues.

Safety takeaways for teens & parents (share these):

• Don’t lie about your age online; predators look for kids posing older.
• Reverse‑image‑search photos from new “friends.”
• Disable location tags (Snap Map, IG, TikTok).
• If someone rushes you off‑platform or asks you to delete chats, that’s a red flag—screenshot and tell a trusted adult.
• Create a no‑shame exit plan and a code word with family/friends.
• Hotlines: National Runaway Safeline 1‑800‑RUNAWAY, NCMEC 1‑800‑THE‑LOST (1‑800‑843‑5678), Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741, Crisis Lifeline: dial 988.

⚖️ Disclaimer: Debate the News: True Crime Edition is for information and discussion only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement, or forensic experts. The show is recorded live with minimal editing; any errors are unintentional. As of November 18, 2025, no one has been charged in the death of Celeste Hernandez. All individuals and entities mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Listener discretion is advised. Guest and audience views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts or the show.

Speakers:

→ Adrienne Barker — Host

→ Joseph Lobosco — Host

→ Shauna — Guest Contributor

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba — Guest Contributor

→ Mariana Thomas — Guest Contributor

→ Maria — Guest Contributor

→ Jessica — Guest Contributor

→ "Doing Life" — Guest Contributor

→ Jotham — Guest Contributor

→ Heather Ford — Guest Contributor

→ Dr. Amanda — Guest Contributor

Credits:

“Debate The News: True Crime”

Created by: Jonathan Bing, Adrienne Barker and Joseph R. Lobosco

Producers: Adrienne Barker, Joseph R. Lobosco, Jonathan Bing

Writers: Adrienne Barker & Joseph R. Lobosco

Editor: Joseph R. Lobosco

Cover Art: Joseph R. Lobosco

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

📍 Recorded Live on Chatter Social

Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android)