US5 min(s) read
Published 09:37 21 Apr 2026 GMT
Music artist D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder over the death of teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Los Angeles Police Department made the shocking discovery of the 14-year-old's remains in the trunk of a car in an impound, responding to reports of a "foul smell" coming from a Tesla.
Authorities found that the car belonged to D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, with a months-long investigation being opened into the artist.
The teenager was reported missing in April 2025, visiting Burke's Hollywood home "never to be seen again," according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
He further confirmed that Burke was charged with Rivas' "brutal and horrific murder."
Burke, 21, had been arrested last week, and his defence team entered his plea on his behalf on Monday (April 20).
Riva's dismembered body was found in the front trunk of a Tesla back in September, with the vehicle being registered to D4vd.
Authorities discovered a bag that contained a head and torso, in addition to another bag with several body parts inside, say court documents.
It is believed that the teenager was in a relationship with the artist, with speculation running wild in the months since about what happened to the young teen.
Investigators and fans have been quick to analyze D4vd's lyrics, behavior, and actions before her disappearance.
Rivas' cause of death has not been officially revealed.
Hochman revealed that there are three sets of charges against the artist - the first is first-degree murder with special circumstances of "lying in wait," according to the BBC.
The second is to do with special circumstances of alleged murder for "financial gain," while the third charge is to do with murdering a witness to an investigation, as Hochman said that Rivas was a witness in an investigation of sexual acts made by Burke.
The DA's office may seek the death penalty in these circumstances, as Hochman stated: "A parent's nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back."
Hochman had accused Burke of murdering the 14-year-old Rivas to maintain his status in the music industry, adding "that Celeste was threatening on that particular night".
ABC7 reported that this was revealed for the first time on Monday, as reporters explained: "LAPD detectives believe that this was a way for David Burke to keep Celeste Rivas quiet,
"That they are saying that because she was about at a time when he was beginning a world tour, when his fame was going up, he was doing interviews around the world."
Adding that he was on his ascent, they suggested: "He wanted to keep her quiet and not reveal a relationship had been going on between the two of them when she was underage."
The allegation was that she was going to expose him, leading to the artist taking action, but his team has denied this and claimed that the artist had nothing to do with her death.
TMZ has obtained video footage of D4vd's arrest, which reveals a tense situation where authorities were heard telling him to "surrender."
The artist would be taken to an LA detention facility, as LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division chief Captain Scot M. Williams said: “We came to the home with a probable cause arrest warrant for him,
“We did the best we can to keep tabs on him, but once we developed probable cause to arrest him for murder, then we were on him pretty diligently.”
The Rivas family said in a statement to CBS News that they are "committed to ensuring that Celeste's voice is heard and her memory is honored throughout this process".
Representing the singer in court are Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, all of whom have promised to ‘vigorously defend’ his innocence.
In a previous statement, they said: “Let us be clear – 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.”
“There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed.
“David has only been detained under suspicion.”
They claim that he has been cooperating with authorities since the investigation began, even cancelling his tour following the discovery of the body.
D4vd is known for his indie-pop songs such as "Feel It" and "Romantic Homicide," building his career up after finding initial success as a teenager.
