Police are reportedly “certain they are going down the right path for a suspect”, a source told ABC News.
Her cause of death is still unknown, but based on the state of decomposition, LAPD believe Rivas’ body was in the trunk of the car for some time.
The source also told NBC4 Investigates that Burke would likely have needed an accomplice to dismember her.
An occasion when he travelled to a “remote area” in Santa Barbara County earlier in the year is allegedly being probed, according to TMZ.
It is believed the singer may have had a romantic relationship with the girl before her death.
Rivas’ family reported her missing in April 2024 after she failed to return home from a trip to the movies.
Her brother Matthew Rivas told NBCLA the then-13-year-old was attending the film with the Houston musician.
Though Burke had previously not been deemed a person of interest in the case, he cancelled his world tour in late September after the discovery of Rivas’ body.
In 2024, the Romantic Homicide singer performed in New Zealand at Laneway.