LOS ANGELES — Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested on suspicion of murder Thursday in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed remains were found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to him, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Burke, 21, was taken into custody around 4:30 p.m. in the Hollywood Hills and booked without bail at LAPD’s 77th Street jail, police said. The arrest came more than seven months after the teenager’s severely decomposed body was discovered in September 2025 inside an abandoned Tesla that had been towed.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was from the Lake Elsinore area, had been reported missing in 2024. Authorities have not detailed how or when she died, or the precise circumstances linking her to the vehicle. Police described the case as a homicide investigation handled by the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division with assistance from other units.
Burke performs as D4vd, an alt-pop and R&B artist who gained popularity in recent years. His attorneys have denied any involvement in the teenager’s death. One statement from his legal team emphasized that “David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death.”
The case was the subject of a grand jury investigation prior to the arrest. Prosecutors are expected to review the matter and decide on formal charges, with the case scheduled to be presented to the district attorney’s office on Monday, according to police.
Details about any relationship between Burke and the victim, or the events leading to her death, remained unclear as of Saturday. The body was found with signs of dismemberment and advanced decomposition, police have said, though exact forensic findings have not been publicly released.
As of Saturday, Burke remained in custody. No additional arrests have been reported in the case. The investigation continues, and authorities have not released further information on potential motives or other evidence.
The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has indicated it plans to issue a statement.
