Pop Singer D4vd Arrested in 14-Year-Old's Killing

Authorities say the musician has been detained on suspicion of murder, but his lawyers maintain his innocence.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:52pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a severed human limb against a pitch-black background, conveying the stark, gritty, and investigative nature of this tragic crime story.The grisly discovery of Celeste Rivas Hernandez's dismembered body in D4vd's vehicle has shocked the music world and sparked a high-profile investigation.Indio Today

Seven months after the body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in a towed SUV registered to pop singer D4vd, the 21-year-old musician has been arrested on suspicion of her murder. Investigators are expected to present the case to prosecutors on Monday, but D4vd's lawyers have declared his innocence and say the evidence will show he did not kill Rivas Hernandez.

Why it matters

The high-profile arrest of a rising young pop star in a grisly homicide case has shocked D4vd's Gen Z fanbase and raised questions about the details of the investigation and the singer's potential involvement.

The details

Authorities say Rivas Hernandez's body was found in an apparently abandoned Tesla Model Y towed from an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood on Sept. 8, a day after she would have turned 15. The body was discovered in a cadaver bag 'covered with insects and a strong odor of decay,' with the arms and legs severed from the decomposed torso. No cause of death has been publicly revealed. D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, had been under investigation by a secret Los Angeles County grand jury looking into Rivas Hernandez's death before his arrest on Thursday.

  • Celeste Rivas Hernandez was reported missing in 2024 at age 13 from her hometown of Lake Elsinore, California.
  • Her body was found on September 8, a day after she would have turned 15 years old.
  • D4vd was arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday, April 17, 2026.

The players

D4vd

Also known as David Burke, the 21-year-old alt-pop singer who has been arrested on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. His lawyers have declared his innocence.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez

The 14-year-old girl whose body was found in an abandoned Tesla registered to D4vd, leading to the singer's arrest.

Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter

D4vd's defense attorneys, who have stated that the evidence will show their client did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

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What they’re saying

“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. We will vigorously defend David's innocence.”

— Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, D4vd's defense attorneys

What’s next

Investigators are expected to present the case to prosecutors on Monday, April 21, 2026, to determine if there is enough evidence to file charges against D4vd.

The takeaway

This high-profile arrest of a rising pop star has shocked D4vd's young fanbase and raised serious questions about the details of the investigation and the singer's potential involvement in the grisly homicide of a 14-year-old girl. The case will likely continue to garner significant public attention as the legal process unfolds.