Singer D4vd Arrested in Connection With Killing of 14-Year-Old Girl

Alt-pop singer D4vd, known legally as David Anthony Burke, was arrested by Los Angeles police on April 16, 2026, on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The arrest follows a long-term investigation into the death of the teenager, whose remains were discovered in a vehicle registered to the 21-year-old singer. Burke is currently being held without bail as prosecutors review the evidence for formal charges.

The Details

The Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division executed the arrest after a complex investigation. On September 8, 2025, the decomposed and dismembered remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez were found inside a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills and subsequently towed. The car is registered to an address in Texas associated with Burke.

Court documents describe a gruesome scene inside the vehicle. Investigators discovered a cadaver bag in the front trunk of the Tesla, which was reported to be covered in insects and emitting a strong odor of decay. Upon partially unzipping the bag, detectives found a decomposed head and torso. A second bag located underneath contained the victim's severed arms and legs.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a resident of Lake Elsinore, California, had been missing since April 2024. She was 13 and in the seventh grade when her family first reported her disappearance. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office noted that the body was severely decomposed, suggesting the victim had been dead for several weeks prior to the discovery of the vehicle in September 2025.

While the arrest has been made, the Medical Examiner has deferred a final ruling on the exact cause of death pending the ongoing investigation. Police also raided a mansion in the Hollywood Hills where Burke was residing, which was located only blocks away from where the Tesla had been towed.

One detail noted in investigative reports is a tattoo on the index finger of both the victim and the suspect. Both Hernandez and Burke reportedly have a nearly identical tattoo that reads 'Shhh…'.

Defense attorneys for David Burke—Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter—have vehemently denied the allegations. In a statement, they asserted that the 'actual evidence' will prove Burke did not murder Hernandez and was not the cause of her death. The defense emphasized that no criminal complaint has been filed and no grand jury indictment has been returned, stating that Burke is currently detained only under suspicion.

Context

D4vd is a 21-year-old singer from Houston who rose to global prominence via TikTok in 2022. His hit 'Romantic Homicide' reached No. 4 on Billboard's Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Signed to Darkroom and Interscope Records, he became a significant figure in the alt-pop scene with EPs like 'Petals to Thorns' and his album 'Withered'.

The fallout from the discovery of the remains in September 2025 was immediate. D4vd cancelled the remainder of his world tour, including dates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and across Europe. Major brand partners, including Hollister and Crocs, dropped him from their marketing campaigns. Additionally, singer Kali Uchis removed their collaboration titled 'Crashing,' and Sony Music Publishing suspended the promotion of his second album.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a first-generation daughter of immigrants from El Salvador. Her family described her as a beloved daughter and friend; however, they also noted that she had a history of running away from home multiple times before her final disappearance in 2024.

What's Next

The case is scheduled to be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Monday, April 20, 2026. The Major Crimes Division will review the findings from the Robbery-Homicide Division to determine if there is sufficient evidence to file formal murder charges.

Legal proceedings are expected to focus on the timeline of the vehicle's abandonment and the forensic evidence linked to the registered owner. The defense has already indicated they will vigorously contest the charges, citing a lack of formal indictment at this stage.

Public and industry reaction is expected to intensify as the District Attorney decides whether to proceed with a trial, potentially leading to further fallout for the singer's professional career and legal status.