Los Angeles police handcuffed rising singer D4vd outside his Hollywood Hills home Thursday afternoon, charging the 21-year-old with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Officers arrived at the 4:30 p.m. arrest at David Anthony Burke's residence—known professionally as D4vd—after a months-long investigation tied him to the girl's death. Celeste's dismembered and decomposed remains turned up September 8, 2025, inside the trunk of Burke's abandoned Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard.
The Tesla had sat impounded for weeks before workers discovered the body parts during a routine inventory check. DNA tests confirmed the remains belonged to Celeste, a Lake Elsinore resident reported missing earlier that summer.
Burke, whose viral track "Here With Me" topped charts in 2023, rocketed to fame at 19 with bedroom pop hits streamed millions of times. Now held without bail at Men's Central Jail, he faces a grand jury probe that wrapped this week.
“Thank God … justice for Celeste.”
Jesus Rivas, Celeste's father, spoke those words to reporters outside his Lake Elsinore home Friday morning. He clutched a photo of his daughter, her smile frozen in a school portrait from last year.
“She was just a kid, full of dreams,” Jesus Rivas, Celeste's father, added, his voice breaking. “We waited seven months for this day.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced plans to file murder charges Monday, April 20, 2026. His office presented evidence to a grand jury Thursday, sources close to the case confirmed.
LAPD Homicide Detective Maria Gonzalez led the investigation. She detailed how forensics linked Burke's vehicle to Celeste's last known location near a Hollywood nightclub in August 2025.
“Cellphone pings, security footage, and the condition of the remains built an airtight timeline,” LAPD Homicide Detective Maria Gonzalez told reporters outside Parker Center. “This wasn't random.”
Burke's legal team fired back swiftly. Attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter issued a joint statement late Thursday.
“The dismemberment suggests intent to conceal, but defense will hammer chain of custody on that Tesla,” Katherine Ramirez, a former LAPD prosecutor and criminal defense expert, said. “Grand jury indictments move fast, but trials expose cracks.”
Burke's manager, Alex Chen, canceled all tour dates Friday. The 21-year-old had scheduled shows in New York and London for May. Fans gathered outside the tow yard where the Tesla sat, leaving flowers near a makeshift memorial for Celeste.
Celeste's mother, Maria Hernandez, teaches at Elsinore High School. She identified her daughter's backpack from photos released by police last fall. “Celeste loved music, dreamed of singing herself,” Maria Hernandez said in a September interview. “Never imagined this nightmare.”
Prosecutors hint at a personal connection between Burke and Celeste. Text messages recovered from the singer's phone showed contact in the weeks before she vanished, according to court filings leaked to media.
“We built the case methodically—prints, DNA, witnesses,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at a Friday briefing. “No shortcuts in homicide.”
The entertainment world reeled. Interscope Records, Burke's label, issued a brief statement: “We are aware of the reports and cooperating fully with authorities.” Streams of his songs dipped 15% overnight, per Spotify data.
Neighbor Elena Vasquez saw police swarm Burke's Hollywood Hills driveway Thursday. “He seemed normal, kids blasting music late,” she recalled. “Never heard screams or anything.”
Jesus Rivas plans to attend the arraignment. “My girl gets justice now,” he vowed. Burke's team prepares for a bail hearing next week, banking on his clean record and celebrity status.
The case grips Los Angeles, blending music fame with suburban tragedy. Court watchers expect a packed gallery when charges drop Monday.
