U.S. musician D4vd has been taken into custody on suspicion of the murder of a 14-year-old girl whose decomposed remains were discovered last year inside an apparently deserted Tesla that was registered in his name and later towed from the Hollywood Hills, according to the authorities. The 21-year-old alt-pop artist, born in Houston and legally known as David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail by the Los Angeles police. The police department stated that a case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for possible charges on Monday.
In response to the allegations, defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter emphasized in an email that the evidence will demonstrate David Burke’s innocence in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office acknowledged the arrest and mentioned that their major crimes division will review the case to assess the evidence for potential charges.
The defense team further clarified, “No grand jury indictment has been issued in this case, and no criminal complaint has been lodged. David is solely under detention on suspicion, and we will vigorously defend his innocence.” This statement marked their first public comment on the matter, as authorities refrained from publicly identifying Burke as a suspect until his arrest, where he remains detained without bail.
The singer had been the subject of an investigation by an L.A. County grand jury regarding the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Although the investigation was confidential, it surfaced on February 25 when his family contested subpoenas in a Texas court demanding their testimony. A Texas judge ruled that the family members must comply with the subpoenas and testify in California.
Despite multiple requests, representatives for the singer have not responded to queries from The Associated Press regarding the case. The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found on September 8, 2025, a day after what would have been her 15th birthday. She was reported missing in 2024 at the age of 13 from Lake Elsinore, approximately 112 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles.
In court records, her age at the time of her death was listed as 14. Police investigators examining the 2023 Tesla Model Y in a tow yard discovered a cadaver bag with signs of decomposition. Upon inspection, a decomposed head and torso were found partially inside the bag, with the arms and legs severed and placed in a separate bag. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the severe state of decomposition and noted that the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Following the discovery, the singer initially continued his U.S. tour but subsequently called off the remaining performances, including a European tour, as his association with the case gained widespread attention.
