The day after a body was found in his car in Hollywood, singer D4vd was belting his TikTok hit Romantic Homicide - a brooding breakup song about killing an ex with no regret - to a sold-out crowd in Minneapolis.
The US recording artist had self-launched his music career from his sister's closet while working a part-time gig at Starbucks. It led him to viral fame, millions of followers online, and a global tour.
But all of it came to an abrupt halt last month with the discovery of a severely decomposed body in the front trunk of his Tesla.
The corpse was identified as that of 15-year-old runaway Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
A month later, mystery still surrounds the teen's death, as well as her relationship to the 20-year-old singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez's remains were found on 8 September in a bag inside D4vd's Tesla. The medical examiner reported that she was wearing a tube top, black leggings, and had a tattoo reading Shhh... on her index finger, mirroring D4vd's own tattoo.
Police have not publicly identified any suspects, and the Los Angeles Police Department classifies the case as an open death investigation, withholding many details from the public.
The young singer has yet to publicly comment on the case, maintaining cooperation with authorities through his spokesperson and hiring a prominent criminal defense attorney.
In the wake of the shocking discovery, endorsements for D4vd's projects evaporated, a grim chapter for a singer whose rise to fame was marked by viral tracks and notable collaborations.
The ambiguity of the investigation continues to fuel speculation among fans and true-crime enthusiasts, as the world awaits clarity on Celeste's tragic end amidst the unsettling ties to a burgeoning pop star.
