The Los Angeles Police Department discovered a decomposing body inside a Tesla registered to popular singer D4vd at a Hollywood impound lot on Monday afternoon, September 8, 2025, following reports of a foul odor emanating from the vehicle.
Officers responded to the 1000 block of North Mansfield Avenue shortly before 12:30 p.m. after workers at the tow yard reported the strong smell coming from the impounded 2023 Tesla. The human remains were found inside a bag placed in the vehicle’s front trunk, according to police sources.
The Tesla is registered to David Anthony Burke, the 20-year-old Queens-born artist professionally known as D4vd, in Hempstead, Texas. The vehicle bears Texas license plates and had been sitting at the impound lot for approximately five days after being reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills.
Police have not identified the victim, and there is no evidence suggesting D4vd himself was harmed. In fact, the singer was active on social media the same day the body was discovered. He posted an Instagram Story with fellow artist Malcolm Todd and announced his album release date just hours before the LAPD’s discovery, according to Distractify. TMZ likewise reported that D4vd made online posts on Monday, underscoring that he remains alive and continuing his tour.
D4vd rose to prominence in 2022 with his breakout singles “Romantic Homicide” and “Here with Me,” both of which achieved viral success on TikTok and subsequently charted internationally. The singer has accumulated billions of streams on Spotify and boasts more than two million followers on Instagram. His music blends indie, R&B, and alternative sounds, often featuring emotional and melancholic lyrics.
Born on March 28, 2005, Burke initially began creating music to avoid copyright strikes on his YouTube videos where he made montage content for the video game Fortnite. He started releasing music on streaming platforms in November 2021, first sharing tracks on SoundCloud, including “You and I” and “Take Me to the Sun.”
Following the viral success of his songs on social media, Burke signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records in September 2022. “Romantic Homicide” reached number three on the Hot Alternative Songs charts, while “Here with Me” peaked at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 10 in Singapore.
Burke released his debut EP “Petals to Thorns” on May 26, 2023, through Darkroom/Interscope Records, which charted in five regions. He followed this with a second EP titled “The Lost Petals” and released his debut album “WITHERED” on April 25, 2024. In March 2024, he also joined the gaming and lifestyle brand 100 Thieves as a content creator.
At the time of the discovery, D4vd has been actively posting on his social media accounts and continuing his “Withered” world tour, which began last month. He performed in Madison, Wisconsin on Sunday night. He is scheduled to perform in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening and has an upcoming show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles scheduled for September 20.
Video footage from news helicopters showed the Tesla surrounded by yellow police tape in the impound lot, with several other parked vehicles nearby and a white canopy set up in the area.
Representatives for D4vd have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the investigation. The discovery has attracted significant media attention due to the singer’s rising popularity and recent performances at major festivals, including Coachella.
