A 21-year-old rising alt-pop star now faces the death penalty for allegedly murdering a 14-year-old girl, dismembering her body, and hiding her remains in the trunk of his Tesla for nearly five months.
Story Snapshot
- Singer D4vd (David Anthony Burke) charged with first-degree murder and special circumstances in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
- Prosecutors allege he killed her on April 23, 2025, to silence her after she threatened to report their sexual relationship to police
- Her dismembered remains were discovered September 8, 2025, stuffed in bags inside the front trunk of his impounded Tesla
- Los Angeles County District Attorney seeks the death penalty, citing lying in wait, financial gain, and murdering a witness as special circumstances
- Defense attorneys deny Burke caused the girl’s death despite sharp instrument homicide ruling
The Grisly Discovery That Launched a Murder Investigation
On September 8, 2025, Los Angeles police made a discovery that would eventually unravel into one of the most disturbing celebrity crime cases in recent memory. Inside the front trunk of an impounded Tesla belonging to singer D4vd, investigators found the decomposed, dismembered remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The 14-year-old had been missing since spring 2025 after visiting the musician’s Hollywood Hills home. The body was so badly decomposed that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner initially could not determine cause or manner of death, classifying the case as undetermined for months.
Singer and songwriter d4vd has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in a Tesla belonging to the musician last year.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 20, 2026
The investigation moved slowly at first. LAPD Captain Scot Williams told media outlets there were no suspects, and the department treated the case as a potential concealment rather than a murder. But by November 24, 2025, that changed. The LAPD officially reclassified the death as a homicide investigation.
Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton made clear no one was off the table, including Burke himself. Throughout the winter and into spring 2026, a grand jury heard evidence compiled by prosecutors, building toward what would become a sprawling murder case with death penalty implications.
From Missing Teen to Murder Victim
Celeste Rivas Hernandez disappeared in April 2025 after traveling to D4vd’s residence in the Hollywood Hills. Prosecutors now allege that on April 23, 2025, Burke murdered the teenager using a sharp instrument. Evidence presented to the grand jury suggests the two had engaged in a sexual relationship, illegal given Celeste’s age.
According to District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Celeste threatened to report this relationship to law enforcement, a threat prosecutors claim motivated Burke to kill her to protect his burgeoning music career and avoid criminal prosecution for statutory rape.
The timeline grows more disturbing. Investigators believe Burke mutilated Celeste’s body on May 5, 2025, a date that coincides with a trip he took to Santa Barbara. LAPD detectives explored whether others assisted in the body disposal, though no additional arrests have been announced.
The victim’s remains stayed hidden in the Tesla’s front trunk for over four months before police discovered them during an impound search. The electric vehicle detail struck many observers as particularly chilling, a modern twist on an age-old crime of concealment.
Special Circumstances and Death Penalty Pursuit
On April 16, 2026, LAPD arrested David Anthony Burke in what witnesses described as a massive show of force. Four days later, on April 20, District Attorney Hochman formally filed charges at a press conference alongside LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.
The charges include first-degree murder, mutilation of human remains, and committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. What elevates this case to capital punishment territory are three special circumstances: lying in wait, financial gain, and murdering a witness to prevent testimony.
The financial gain allegation centers on prosecutors’ theory that Burke killed Celeste to preserve his music career, which would have been destroyed by statutory rape charges. The witness murder special circumstance stems from her alleged threat to report their illegal relationship.
LAPD Chief McDonnell confirmed during the press conference that evidence supports a sexual relationship between the adult singer and the underage victim. Burke’s defense team issued a terse statement: their client was not the cause of Celeste’s death. They offered no elaboration, and Burke has not publicly commented beyond that denial.
Celebrity Accountability and Cultural Reckoning
The D4vd case arrives at a moment when the music industry faces renewed scrutiny over power imbalances between young artists and even younger fans. The alt-pop singer had cultivated a devoted following, and the revelation that he allegedly exploited that platform to engage sexually with a minor before killing her to cover his tracks represents a betrayal that extends beyond one family’s tragedy.
It raises uncomfortable questions about access, supervision, and the mechanisms that allow adults in positions of influence to prey on children. The entertainment industry has weathered similar reckonings, yet each new case reveals how inadequate existing safeguards remain.
Singer D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, found dismembered in his car https://t.co/cCJw9bZZPN
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNewsTO) April 20, 2026
For Celeste’s family, the months since her disappearance have been unimaginable. They prepared public statements as the investigation intensified, and now face the prospect of a lengthy trial with death penalty stakes.
.The community in Los Angeles reacted with shock, not only at the crime itself but at the macabre detail of a body hidden in plain sight within an impounded vehicle for months. Social media coverage exploded, with news clips garnering tens of thousands of views as the public grappled with the contrast between D4vd’s rising star image and the horrific allegations now defining his legacy.
Sources:
TMZ – Celeste Rivas Cause of Death Released in D4vd Murder Case
Wikipedia – Death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
