D4vd has been formally charged with the first-degree murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered and decomposed remains were discovered last September in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the artist.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges on April 20, 2026, during a press conference, calling the case “a parent’s nightmare” and describing the alleged crime as “brutal and horrific.” The 21-year-old singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, faces multiple counts including first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, unlawful mutilation of human remains, and personal use of a deadly weapon.
According to prosecutors, Rivas Hernandez went to Burke’s home in the Hollywood Hills on April 23, 2025, at his invitation and was never heard from again. Her remains were found on September 8, 2025 — one day after what would have been her 15th birthday — inside two bags in the frunk of the impounded vehicle. One bag contained her head and torso; the other held her severed arms and legs. The Tesla had been towed from a street in the Hollywood Hills after reports of a strong foul odor.
Prosecutors allege Burke was in a sexual relationship with the underage girl that began while she was under 14, and that she was a potential witness in an investigation into those acts. They claim she threatened to expose the relationship, which could have jeopardized his rising music career just days before the planned release of his debut album Withered. The special circumstances attached to the murder charge — lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and murder of a witness — could make Burke eligible for the death penalty or life without parole. The DA’s office has not yet decided whether to seek capital punishment.
Rivas Hernandez, from Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, had been reported missing in 2024 at age 13. Family members had previously indicated she knew Burke, referred to as “David” in some accounts, and had run away from home on prior occasions.
Burke, who broke through with the 2022 viral hit “Romantic Homicide” (which peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Alternative Songs chart) and later signed with Darkroom/Interscope, was on tour when the remains were discovered. He canceled remaining dates and a planned European leg as the investigation intensified. A grand jury had been examining the case, with Burke named as the target.
The singer was arrested by LAPD on April 16, 2026, at a Hollywood Hills residence and has been held without bail. At his arraignment on April 20, Burke pleaded not guilty to all charges. His attorneys, including Blair Berk, issued a statement saying, “The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend his innocence.”
Hochman emphasized that prosecutors intend to present forensic, digital, and physical evidence at trial to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. Details of the autopsy remain under court seal.
As of April 21, 2026, the case is in the early pretrial stages, with a preliminary hearing potentially forthcoming. Rivas Hernandez’s family has remained largely private.
Burke rose to prominence blending indie, R&B, and lo-fi pop elements, with tracks gaining traction on TikTok and even appearing in Fortnite. His debut EP Petals to Thorns and subsequent releases built a dedicated Gen Z following before the events of 2025 halted his momentum.
