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

Authorities say the alt-pop musician is a suspect in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found in his SUV.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:55pm

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An extreme close-up of a black body bag with a faint red glow peeking through, captured with a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a stark, gritty, and investigative mood without depicting any actual violence or victims.The grim discovery of a dismembered body in an abandoned vehicle exposes the dark underbelly of the music industry's rising stars.Lake Elsinore Today

Seven months after the body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was discovered in the towed Tesla SUV of alt-pop singer D4vd, the 21-year-old musician has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Detectives arrested D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, on Thursday, and investigators are expected to present the case to prosecutors on Monday. Burke's lawyers have declared his innocence, stating the evidence will show he did not kill Rivas Hernandez.

Why it matters

The high-profile case involving a rising young musician and the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl has shocked the music industry and the local community. It raises questions about the vetting of artists, the responsibilities of fame, and the need for greater protections for vulnerable youth.

The details

Rivas Hernandez was reported missing from her hometown of Lake Elsinore in 2024 when she was 13 years old. Her decomposed body was later found in an abandoned Tesla Model Y towed from a Hollywood Hills neighborhood, with her arms and legs severed. No cause of death has been publicly revealed. Burke had been under investigation by a secret Los Angeles County grand jury, which was revealed when his family members were subpoenaed to testify. The singer's lawyers say no indictment has been returned and no criminal complaint has been filed.

  • Rivas Hernandez was reported missing in 2024 at age 13.
  • Her body was found on September 8, a day after she would have turned 15.
  • Burke was arrested on Thursday, April 17, 2026.

The players

D4vd

The stage name of 21-year-old alt-pop singer David Burke, who has been arrested on suspicion of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez

A 14-year-old girl whose body was found in the towed Tesla SUV of singer D4vd. She was reported missing from her hometown of Lake Elsinore in 2024 when she was 13 years old.

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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, Defense attorneys for D4vd

What’s next

Investigators are expected to present the case to prosecutors on Monday, April 21, 2026.

The takeaway

This high-profile case involving a rising young musician and the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl has shocked the music industry and the local community, raising questions about the vetting of artists, the responsibilities of fame, and the need for greater protections for vulnerable youth.