Singer D4vd Arrested for Murder of Teen Found Dead in Tesla
Los Angeles police arrested singer David Burke — known professionally as D4vd — on Thursday on suspicion of murdering Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl whose remains were found dismembered inside an abandoned Tesla in 2025. Burke, 21, is being held without bail as the case heads to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office on Monday for filing consideration.
The LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division announced the arrest on official channels Thursday evening. Investigators said Burke was taken into custody without incident. The arrest comes after a lengthy investigation that included grand jury proceedings.
Who Is D4vd?
David Burke began making music as D4vd as a teenager in Houston, Texas, recording bedroom pop and indie R&B songs on a gaming headset in his home. His 2022 single "Romantic Homicide" went viral on TikTok and earned him a major label deal and more than a billion streams across platforms. He continued releasing music and touring through 2024 before the investigation into Celeste's death began drawing law enforcement scrutiny toward him.
At 21, Burke had become one of the most closely watched young artists in independent music. The arrest has stunned fans, who say his music — often centered on themes of heartbreak and longing — gave no indication of violent behavior. His management had not issued a public statement as of Thursday night.
Celebrity crimes in Los Angeles have made national headlines with regularity. A Hollywood producer received 146 years in prison for murders tied to drug overdose deaths, illustrating how entertainment industry figures have faced serious criminal accountability in recent years.
A Body Found in a Hollywood Tow Yard
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was reported missing by her family in Los Angeles in 2025. Her dismembered remains were discovered inside a Tesla that had been towed to a storage facility in Hollywood. Court documents reviewed by NBC News indicate that investigators tied the vehicle to Burke through a combination of surveillance footage, digital records, and forensic evidence gathered over the course of a months-long investigation.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed how Burke and Celeste knew each other or what led to the encounter. The discovery of her remains shocked investigators and the broader public, and the case quickly drew significant media attention given both the gruesome nature of the crime and the profile of the suspect.
A Grand Jury Had Already Named Burke as a Target
Before Thursday's arrest, a Los Angeles grand jury had been convened to weigh charges in the case. Newsweek confirmed that Burke had been formally named as a target of the grand jury investigation. Prosecutors presented evidence to the panel in the weeks before the arrest was made, which legal analysts say signals the district attorney intends to move quickly toward a formal filing.
If charges are filed Monday as expected, Burke could be arraigned shortly thereafter. He faces potential life imprisonment if convicted of first-degree murder.
The Defense Team Pushes Back
Burke's attorneys have indicated they intend to challenge the charges. Without a formal complaint filed by the district attorney, the full scope of the evidence against him has not been made public. The decision to hold him without bail reflects prosecutors' belief that he poses either a significant flight risk or a danger to public safety.
Criminal cases involving the deaths of vulnerable victims often draw intense public scrutiny. A Washington man was charged with murder after his girlfriend's body was pulled from a river — a case that also built slowly on digital evidence before resulting in an arrest.
Remembering Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was 14 years old at the time of her death. Her family has not made public statements about their relationship with Burke or the circumstances of her disappearance. Child safety advocates have pointed to the case as a reminder of the risks faced by minors in informal social situations with adults.
Modern criminal investigations increasingly rely on technology to reconstruct timelines and connect suspects to crimes. In one high-profile case abroad, a woman used ChatGPT to plan murders, demonstrating how digital tools now play a central role on both sides of violent crime.
In other recent cases, children have lost their lives through the negligence or violence of adults. Parents were charged with murder after their infant died from drugs passed through breast milk — another case that sparked a national conversation about protecting vulnerable children.
The district attorney's filing decision on Monday is expected to set the timeline for what could become one of the highest-profile criminal cases in Los Angeles in recent years.
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