U.S. artist D4vd has been taken into custody on suspicion of the murder of a 14-year-old girl whose decomposed remains were discovered in an apparently deserted Tesla connected to him that was removed from the Hollywood Hills area last year, as stated by the police on Thursday. The Los Angeles authorities reported that the 21-year-old alt-pop singer, born in Houston and legally known as David Anthony Burke, is being detained without bail. They mentioned that a case would be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for potential charges on Monday.
A statement from the police indicated that a case would be presented to the prosecutors at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Monday. The District Attorney’s Office acknowledged the arrest in its own statement, mentioning that its major crimes division would review the case to assess the evidence for filing charges.
The singer had been the subject of an investigation by an L.A. County grand jury regarding the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The investigation was kept confidential, but details emerged on Feb. 25 when D4vd’s family members objected to subpoenas demanding their testimony in a Texas court.
A Texas judge ruled that the family members must comply with the subpoenas and testify in California. Despite multiple requests from The Associated Press, the singer’s representatives have not commented on the case.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body was discovered on September 8, 2025, a day after what would have been her 15th birthday. She was a seventh-grade student reported missing in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, approximately 112 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles. Authorities stated in court documents that she was 14 at the time of her death.
During a search of the 2023 Tesla Model Y in a tow yard, investigators found a cadaver bag with signs of decomposition. Additional bags were found containing dismembered body parts. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that the body had decomposed significantly and had been severed. The cause of death remains undisclosed, as a court order in November 2025 prevented the release of autopsy findings.
D4vd, who was on a U.S. tour at the time of the discovery, continued performing shows until reports linking him to the case surfaced. Subsequently, he canceled the remainder of his concerts and an upcoming European tour.
