D4vd Arrested for Murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez After Body Found in Tesla

Platinum-selling artist D4vd was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, seven months after Los Angeles police found the teen's dismembered and severely decomposed body in the trunk of his impounded Tesla. The singer, born David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail, the Los Angeles Police Department announced.

LAPD Arrests D4vd at Hollywood Hills Home

Sources at the singer's Hollywood Hills home told Rolling Stone that Burke was “completely cooperative” when he was taken into custody. Law enforcement sources said detectives had obtained a probable-cause warrant and arrested Burke shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Video obtained by the California Post showed heavily armed LAPD officers leading Burke away with his hands behind his back. He was still being booked when police announced the arrest on social media.

Defense Lawyers Issue Statement | “David Burke Did Not Murder”

Burke's defense lawyers quickly pushed back on the charges. “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,” lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter said in a statement provided to Rolling Stone. The attorneys emphasized that no grand jury indictment has been returned and no criminal complaint has been filed, noting that Burke has only been detained under suspicion.

Seven-Month Investigation | Body Discovered in Impounded Tesla

The arrest followed a seven-month investigation that began when LAPD officers discovered Hernandez's remains in the trunk of Burke's Tesla after the vehicle was impounded. The body was described in police reports as dismembered and severely decomposed, indicating the remains had been in the vehicle for a significant period before the discovery. Hernandez was 14 years old at the time of her death.

The case drew immediate national attention because of Burke's rising profile in the music industry. Recording under the name D4vd, Burke broke through with platinum-certified singles and was a fixture on streaming playlists and at international fashion events, including Paris Fashion Week in March 2025. His arrest marks one of the highest-profile murder cases involving a music artist in recent years.

No Formal Charges Filed Yet

As of Thursday evening, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office had not filed formal charges. Under California law, prosecutors have 48 hours from the time of arrest, excluding weekends and holidays, to file a complaint or release the suspect. Burke's legal team has indicated they intend to vigorously contest the allegations and have requested an expedited bail hearing, though the current hold-without-bail status suggests prosecutors view the case as a capital or special-circumstances matter.

The investigation remains active. LAPD has asked anyone with information related to Celeste Rivas Hernandez or the circumstances of her death to contact the department's Robbery-Homicide Division.