Alt-pop singer D4vd has been formally charged with murder in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered remains were discovered inside a vehicle registered to him.
The 21-year-old artist, whose legal name is David Burke, rose to prominence among younger audiences through viral success on TikTok and streaming platforms. His 2022 breakout single “Romantic Homicide” gained widespread attention, reaching No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
He later signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records, releasing projects including “Petals to Thorns” and “The Lost Petals” in 2023, establishing himself within the indie and lo-fi pop space.
Prosecutors allege that Burke is responsible for the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was reported missing at age 13 in 2024 and later determined to have been 14 at the time of her death. He faces charges of first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14, and mutilation of human remains.
The murder charge includes special-circumstance allegations, lying in wait, financial gain, and killing a potential witness, which could make Burke eligible for the death penalty if it is pursued by prosecutors. Authorities have not yet announced whether they intend to seek capital punishment.
Burke was arrested on April 16 at a residence in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles following what officials described as a lengthy investigation that had been presented to a grand jury. Los Angeles police said he was being held without bail. In a statement released after the arrest, his attorneys said that he is innocent and that they “will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
The case stems from the discovery of Celeste’s remains on Sept. 8, 2025, when a 2023 Tesla Model Y registered to Burke was towed from an upscale neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills after appearing to be abandoned. The vehicle was transported to a tow yard, where investigators conducted a search.
According to court documents cited by prosecutors, officers located a cadaver bag inside the vehicle emitting a strong odor of decomposition and covered in insects. Detectives partially unzipped the bag and observed a decomposed head and torso. A subsequent examination by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office found that the victim’s arms and legs had been severed. Additional remains were recovered from a second bag beneath the first.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell walks past an image of Celeste Rivas Hernandez in Los Angeles on April 20, 2026, after a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo)
The cause of death has not been publicly released, and a court order remains in place restricting disclosure of autopsy details.
Celeste, a resident of Lake Elsinore, California, had been missing for months before the discovery. Authorities had not publicly identified Burke as a suspect before his arrest, although court filings indicate that he had been under investigation by a county grand jury earlier this year.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
