A private investigator hired by the owner of a Hollywood Hills rental once occupied by singer and songwriter D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke) has become a key figure in the ongoing inquiries surrounding the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Hernandez’s remains were found on September 8 in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the 19-year-old musician, who is best known for his viral hit songs “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me.”
Authorities have not named Burke as a suspect or person of interest, and he has not been accused of any crime. The Los Angeles Police Department has not released findings connecting the artist to Hernandez’s death.
However, the private investigator, Steve Fischer, has publicly shared elements of his independent research that he believes warrant closer review by law enforcement. Fischer posted a thread on X (formerly Twitter) outlining items he says he located at the Hollywood Hills property after Burke vacated it earlier this year.
One of the items Fischer highlighted was a “Build-A-Bear Workshop” certificate dated April 21, 2024, made out to a person named “Esmeralda.” Fischer noted that Hernandez has a cousin named Esmeralda, who helped spearhead a GoFundMe campaign and had been photographed with the teenager at her school graduation. Because Hernandez was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California, on April 5, Fischer suggested the date might be significant.
Fischer also pointed out that around the same date, Burke posted a TikTok video filmed on a roller coaster at Six Flags, a location that houses a Build-A-Bear store. Based on this, he theorized that Hernandez may have been with Burke that day while she was still officially listed as missing.
However, Fischer acknowledged that this conclusion is speculative. It remains entirely possible, he stated, that “Esmeralda” refers to another friend or acquaintance of the singer and that the events of that day have no connection to Hernandez at all. The LAPD has not confirmed or commented on any of Fischer’s claims.
The private investigator also claimed that additional items he found inside the Hollywood Hills residence could complicate the current understanding of the timeline and suggested that certain objects of potential evidentiary value were not collected by investigators. He questioned whether all leads had been fully pursued and publicly called for the LAPD and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to take a deeper look, characterizing the situation as potentially involving “one adult male grooming a teenager.”
Fischer’s statements are his allegations, and at this stage, they remain unsubstantiated. Law enforcement has not publicly supported or addressed his interpretations.
Hernandez’s disappearance and death have drawn increasing national attention as new layers of the case continue to unfold. Community advocates and online commentators have raised concerns about the handling of the investigation and the broader issue of missing and exploited minors in Southern California.
As of now, the LAPD has reiterated only that the investigation is ongoing. Burke has not been arrested, detained, or publicly named as a suspect. No official link has been established tying him directly to the circumstances of Hernandez’s death.
Further developments are expected as detectives continue to interview witnesses, analyze digital evidence, and evaluate timelines.