Los Angeles police arrested rising alt-pop singer D4vd on Thursday on suspicion of murdering a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered and decomposed remains were discovered inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the artist more than seven months ago.
The Arrest
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that David Anthony Burke, aged 21, known professionally as D4vd was being held without bail following his arrest on suspicion of murder. The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division made the arrest and announced it via social media, stating: “Detectives from Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division have arrested David Burke, a 21-year-old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas.”
The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Monday, and the prosecutor’s office confirmed that its major crimes division will review the matter. Burke’s defence attorneys issued an immediate statement declaring his innocence: “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. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
Figure 1: David Anthony Burke aka ‘D4vd’ [Alexis Jumeau]
The Public Stakes
The case carries significant public interest for several reasons:
- D4vd gained popularity among Generation Z fans for his blend of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop, going viral on TikTok in 2022 with the hit “Romantic Homicide,” which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
- D4vd has nearly 4 million followers on TikTok, giving the case an enormous reach across youth-oriented platforms.
- The victim, Celeste Abigail Rivas Hernandez, was born to parents who immigrated from El Salvador, and her death drew widespread community grief and calls for accountability.
- Sources at the time indicated the girl’s body was dismembered, and the process of dismembering and disposing of her body is believed to have likely involved more than one person, raising questions about broader criminal responsibility.
The arrest also highlights the dangers facing vulnerable young people who make contact with individuals in positions of cultural influence online.
Who Is Involved
David Anthony Burke, known by his stage name d4vd (pronounced “David”), is a 21-year-old Houston-born alt-pop artist. He is signed to Darkroom and Interscope Records and released two major EPs in 2023: his debut, “Petals to Thorns,” and the follow-up, “The Lost Petals.”
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was 14 years old and from Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California, and her parents had immigrated from El Salvador. She is best remembered by those who knew her as a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend.
Figure 2: A memorial of Celeste Rivas [Getty Images]
The LAPD had previously confirmed that Rivas Hernandez and Burke were involved in a relationship, though investigators did not publicly detail its nature or length. After the discovery of Rivas’s body, photographs allegedly showing them together surfaced, and Rivas’s mother stated that her daughter had a boyfriend named “David,” with Rivas and Burke reportedly having matching tattoos.
Key individuals connected to the investigation include:
- Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter defence attorneys for Burke
- LAPD Capt. Scot Williams the officer who confirmed details of the arrest
- Neo Langston a 23-year-old streamer and friend of the artist, who was arrested in January 2026 for failing to appear as a witness in the homicide probe
- Dawud Burke the singer’s father, who was called to testify before the grand jury after a Texas judge denied his request to quash a subpoena for his testimony
Where It Happened
Burke was arrested shortly after 4:30 p.m. at a house on Marmont Avenue in the Hollywood Hills. On 8 September 2025, police found the remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez in the trunk of a Tesla impounded at Hollywood Tow, after officers were called to the lot because of a foul odour coming from the vehicle.
The vehicle had been ticketed for a parking violation on 28 August and impounded two days later after sitting abandoned on Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills. The car was impounded after someone reported it as abandoned, with neighbours saying it had been parked in the area for more than a month, not far from a rental property where Burke had been living.
Celeste was from Lake Elsinore, California, a community located approximately 112 kilometres south-east of Los Angeles, placing significant geographic distance between the victim’s home and the location where her remains were ultimately found.
A Timeline of Events
The timeline of events spans nearly two years:
- April 2024: A missing-person flyer indicated Celeste was last seen leaving her home on 5 April 2024.
- May 2024: She last contacted her family in May 2024.
- January 2025: Surveillance footage and digital evidence revealed that Rivas was alive in September 2024 and January 2025.
- Spring 2025: Investigators believe Celeste died in the spring of 2025, months before her body was discovered in September.
- 5 September 2025: D4vd’s Tesla was towed to an impound yard.
- 8 September 2025: Police discovered the remains one day after what would have been Celeste’s 15th birthday.
- November 2025: An investigative grand jury was convened, and the LAPD obtained a court order sealing the medical examiner’s file, including autopsy results, citing concerns about the investigation and potential witnesses.
- February 2026: A Texas judge denied a request from D4vd’s father to quash a subpoena for his testimony.
- 16 April 2026: Burke was arrested at approximately 4:30 p.m. at a property in the Hollywood Hills.
Also Read: Iran Just Opened the Strait of Hormuz. Here’s Why That Matters for Every Dollar You Spend on Petrol
The Chain of Events and the Road Ahead
Inside a black cadaver bag in the vehicle’s front trunk, officers found a decomposed head and torso, according to court filings associated with the grand jury investigation. A second bag contained dismembered body parts. Sources indicated the teen may have been dead for several weeks before her body was discovered.
LAPD Capt. Scot Williams told the California Post: “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.” Sources told ABC News the arrest is based on evidence and probable cause that was developed over time it was not the result of a grand jury indictment.
Investigators confirmed to ABC News that they can prove the teen’s death was murder, with one of the major hurdles for the Medical Examiner being the determination of cause of death given the state of the body. The medical examiner’s office said last year it could not release details about her cause and manner of death because of a security hold sought by police.
In terms of what follows:
- The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Monday for filing consideration.
- The defence lawyers stated: “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.”
- An attorney for Burke’s parents also issued a statement: “David’s parents believe in his innocence and support him whole heartedly.”
The fallout reached into the music industry as well. Singer-songwriter Kali Uchis pulled the song collaboration “Crashing” from streaming services and stated that Burke is “not my friend. I did a song with him, which is currently in the process of being taken down.” Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey quietly pulled the song “This Is How It Feels” from streaming services, and Burke’s song “What Are You Waiting For” was removed from the soundtrack for Madden NFL 26 without a statement from the publisher, EA Sports.
When the body was first discovered, D4vd had been on tour in support of his first full-length album, “Withered.” The last two North American shows in San Francisco and Los Angeles along with a scheduled performance at the Grammy Museum, were cancelled, as was the European tour that was to have begun in Norway.
The case continues to develop, with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Major Crimes Division now tasked with determining whether sufficient evidence exists to formally charge Burke with murder.
Disclaimer: This article reports on an ongoing criminal investigation based on police statements and sources. David Anthony Burke (D4vd) has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has not yet been formally charged or indicted by a grand jury. The statements from his defense attorneys emphasize his presumed innocence until proven guilty. All information is subject to change as the case develops.
Last modified: April 18, 2026
