D4vd Case Update: Investigation Shifts from Circumstantial to Forensic Evidence, Experts Call It a 'Weak Case'

Romantic Homicide singer, D4vd, has been highly associated with the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose severely decomposed remains were found on 8 September 2025 inside the trunk of a Tesla impounded at a Los Angeles lot, which is registered under the singer's name.

Before the discovery at a Los Angeles impound yard, staff had reported a persistent foul odour coming from the vehicle, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.

Now, reports said that the case against the singer and rapper, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has shifted from circumstantial to forensic, and experts are saying that there's a 'weak case' against him. Here's everything you need to know about this new development.

Case Against D4vd Shifted from Circumstantial to Forensic

Earlier in November 2025, media outlets reported that D4vd had been identified as a suspect, which was followed by a report that the singer is 'likely' to face indictment in connection with Rivas' death on 29 December 2025.

Since then, the case against the singer has shifted from circumstantial to forensic, according to the report of AOL.

But what does it really mean, and what weight does it hold for justice for Rivas, given that five months after the discovery of her remains, no formal charges have been announced against D4vd?

What does the Shift Mean?

The shift from circumstantial to forensic represents a move from logical inferences to scientific certainties.

Circumstantial which initially dominated the case, relies on reasoning to connect facts—such as the body of the teenager being found in a Tesla registered to the artist. While obviously this suggest connection, it does not directly prove how she died or who did it.

Meanwhile, forensic involves scientific data like DNA, toxicology reports, and digital footprints that can pinpoint a specific cause of death or place a suspect at the scene.

The shift in holding weights for finding justice is immense, as the findings in forensics are often seen as more objective and harder for the defense to dispute in court

Experts Think There's a 'Weak Case' Against D4vd

Although a shift has been made, an expert thinks that there's a 'weak case' against D4vd. Reporter Lauren Conlin of Los Angeles Magazine, who has been following the case talked to NewsNation and said that the case is taking long enough and an arrest or even a formal charge has not been made, thus the belief that it's a 'weak case.'

She said, 'This is not really adding up, Jesse, and I'm starting to get really worried here. I mean, this is taking long enough as it is, but you've got a little girl who was found in the trunk of a popular 20-year-old singer's car. I mean, what are we doing here?'

She added, 'I am beginning to think that this is a weak case. And actually, you know what? I take it back. I'm not beginning to think, I thought this from the start, essentially, when there wasn't an arrest, pretty much immediately after the body of a teenager is found in someone's car.'

PI Expressed Frustration Over the Slow-Moving Case

Last month, Private Investigator Steve Fischer, hired to examine D4vd's rented Hollywood Hills mansion, expressed his frustration over the slow-moving case of Rivas' death.

Fischer has made it clear from his past discoveries that he believes that there's foul play at the place of Rivas' death. He even theorized that the teenager might have died from an 'accidental overdose.' But none of these discoveries has led to an arrest.

He wrote on an X post: 'Today is January 15, 2026, and still no one has been charged, or even officially named as a suspect, for harboring a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, filing a false police report, committing sex crimes against a minor, concealing a body, homicide, or acting as an accessory to any of these crimes in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.'

Fischer said bluntly: 'At this point, it can't even be called a case.'

Other Updates on the Celeste Rivas' Case

On 22 January 2026, Neo Christopher Langston, a 23-year-old Twitch streamer known online as NeoTheAsian and a close associate of D4vd, was taken into custody at his mother's Montana home after failing to appear before a grand jury. The arrest was carried out by the Helena Police Department at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division.

Following the $60,000 (approximately £44,000) bond to be released from custody, Langston appeared before the grand jury, and his testimony reportedly lasted only 30 to 40 minutes, despite Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman's reputation for aggressive questioning.

This marked the first public sighting of Langston since his arrest.

On the other hand, Fischer posted an update on X regarding D4vd's Tesla. He revealed that the vehicle had been collected from the impound lot and is under new ownership. Fischer said that he wouldn't be surprised if the vehicle were 'crushed.'

The private investigator also clarified that the Los Angeles Police Department held the Tesla for only 48 hours to process as evidence before returning it to the impound lot for retrieval.

However, Rivas' cause of death has yet to be revealed, and no recent reports confirm whether it has been determined.