An unused ‘burn cage’ incinerator is found at the Hollywood Hills home once rented by singer D4vd

16 December 2025

A “burn cage” incinerator that is advertised to burn at 1,600 degrees was discovered at the Hollywood Hill mansion that singer D4vd was renting. WWD via Getty Images

In a turn that has intensified public intrigue and speculation surrounding the tragic death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a startling discovery has been reported at the Hollywood Hills residence once rented by rising singer David Austen Burke, known professionally as D4vd. According to a private investigator hired by the property owner, an industrial-style “burn cage” incinerator, capable of reaching temperatures of 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, was found inside the home in its original, unopened packaging. This find, though reportedly unused, has added a new and deeply troubling element to a case that has captured national attention and raised questions about what really happened to the young girl whose remains were found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the artist back in early September.

The incinerator, designed for high-temperature burning of materials, was discovered by private investigator Steve Fischer while combing through the Doheny Street residence after it had been vacated. Fischer, who was retained by the homeowner to inventory and clear out the property, described the equipment as “something you would expect to find on a farm rather than in a home in the Hollywood Hills,” underlining how out of place such a device feels in an upscale residential setting. The incinerator was still boxed and unused, and Fischer noted it had been delivered under a false name to the rented estate prior to Burke’s departure on his world tour.

Incinerators of this kind are illegal to operate within Los Angeles County residential areas because of the obvious safety hazards they present. The fact that this item was present at the same address associated with the Tesla where Celeste’s body was discovered has prompted both official scrutiny and widespread public speculation, even though the device was not seized during the police’s search of the property and remains unconnected to any formal charges at this stage. Fischer has argued that while the incinerator was not used, its presence provides important context and raises questions worth considering as part of the broader investigation.

The discovery has reignited scrutiny of the still-unresolved circumstances surrounding Celeste’s death. On September 8, 2025, heavily decomposed human remains were found in the front compartment of a Tesla car registered to D4vd after tow yard workers noticed a foul odor emanating from the vehicle. The car, which had been parked and left abandoned in the Hollywood Hills area, was impounded before the discovery was made. Celeste’s identity was later confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office, and she was revealed to be a 14-year-old girl from Lake Elsinore who had been missing for some time.

D4vd, 20, was in the midst of his “Withered” world tour when the remains were discovered, and he abruptly canceled the remaining dates of that tour shortly afterward. Authorities executed a search warrant at the Hollywood Hills residence in mid-September, seizing “several items of evidence” as part of their inquiry into the circumstances of the teen’s death. Burke’s manager subsequently terminated the lease and he moved out of the property soon after the search. As of now, the Los Angeles Police Department has not publicly charged him or any other party in connection with the case, and the official cause and manner of Celeste’s death have not been released pending further investigation.

Unanswered questions surrounding how the incinerator came to be at the residence and why it was ordered under a false name have prompted debate online and in some corners of the news media. Fischer noted that if the item were intended for use as a prop in a music video or other production, it would be expected to be shipped directly to a production house or prop designer rather than to a private home, intensifying speculation about the motivation behind the purchase. Law enforcement officials, however, have not commented on whether the incinerator is part of their active investigation, emphasizing that the case is ongoing and details remain sealed or private to protect the integrity of their work.

Public reaction has ranged from shock to anger, particularly on social media platforms where users have expressed confusion over the lack of arrests despite the discovery of such high-temperature equipment at an address linked to a teen’s death. Advocacy groups and online commenters alike have questioned why, in light of the incinerator discovery, formal charges have yet to be made, and why key forensic details remain under judicial seal. Some have pointed to the unresolved nature of the medical examiner’s findings and law enforcement’s reluctance to disclose more information as factors that continue to fuel speculation and frustration among the public.

Despite the intense public interest and the troubling nature of the incinerator’s discovery, police emphasize that investigations into complex cases like this can take time and often require careful forensic work before charges can be filed. At present, authorities continue to investigate, seeking to piece together the sequence of events that led to Celeste’s death and to determine whether the presence of the incinerator or other unusual items at the Hollywood Hills property has direct relevance to the case.

As the inquiry continues, the joint presence of an unused burn cage and the unanswered questions surrounding the young girl’s tragic death in a vehicle registered to a high-profile musician have created a swirl of narrative threads that keep drawing attention. Until investigators offer more definitive explanations, the discovery adds a chilling layer to a story already marked by mystery, unanswered questions and intense public scrutiny.