Singer D4vd has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of a teenage girl whose decomposed remains were found last year inside his abandoned Tesla.
Authorities confirmed that the 21-year-old singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail.
The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla
Police said the case is expected to be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Monday for review, where prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges.
The DA’s office confirmed it is aware of the arrest, stating that its Major Crimes Division will now evaluate the evidence.
“The case is expected to be presented to the Major Crimes Division, at which point prosecutors will review the facts and evidence to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to file charge,” the office said.
“At this time, additional information is not available. We will share an update on Monday once a filing decision has been made.”
Rivas’ body was discovered in September 2025 in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the singer after police responded to reports of a strong odor coming from an impounded vehicle.
Further investigation confirmed the remains were those of missing teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Court documents described disturbing conditions when the body was recovered, according to Los Angeles Times.
“Upon removing the cadaver bag from the front storage compartment, it was discovered the arms and legs had been severed from the body. A second black bag was discovered underneath the cadaver bag. Upon opening the second bag, the dismembered body parts were discovered.”
The 14-year-old girl was from Lake Elsinore, California, and her parents were immigrants from El Salvador. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, she was reported missing three times in the year before her death. She last ran away in April 2024 and last contacted her family in May 2024.
Evidence such as surveillance footage and digital records later suggested she was still alive in September 2024 and again in January 2025.
Months of investigation
The singer’s attorneys, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, strongly deny the allegations. In a 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.”
They added: “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. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
The arrest follows months of investigation, after Burke was first identified as a suspect in late 2025. Law enforcement sources previously alleged he had not been fully cooperative, though his representatives have disputed that characterization.
Rivas was just days past her 15th birthday when her body was found. Officials believe she may have been deceased for weeks before the discovery.
The case has also raised questions about possible connections between the teen and the singer, though investigators have not confirmed any relationship.
Burke, known professionally as D4vd, rose to fame with songs including Romantic Homicide and Here With Me. He was on tour at the time the investigation first gained public attention and later canceled scheduled performances.
His legal team maintains his innocence as prosecutors prepare to decide whether formal charges will be filed in the coming days.
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