Singer D4vd Arrested in Death of Teen Found in His Tesla

Singer and TikTok star D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, was arrested on April 16, 2026, at a home on Marmont Avenue in the Hollywood Hills on suspicion of murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, according to NBC Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest on social media, stating that detectives from its Robbery-Homicide Division had taken Burke, 21, into custody on a probable cause warrant without incident just after 4:30 p.m. He was being held without bail as of Thursday evening. On April 20, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office formally charged Burke with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilating human remains. He pleaded not guilty. If convicted on the murder charge, Burke could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty, District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced.

Celeste, a Lake Elsinore, California girl reported missing in the spring of 2024, was 13 years old when she disappeared. Her decomposed remains were discovered on September 8, 2025 - one day after what would have been her 15th birthday - in the front trunk of a Tesla impounded at a Los Angeles tow yard. The car had been parked abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for more than a month before being towed. It was registered to Burke. LAPD said investigators believe Celeste’s death likely occurred in the spring of 2025.

How the Case Developed

The discovery of Celeste’s remains in the impounded Tesla drew immediate attention given the vehicle’s registered owner. Burke’s representative told NBC Los Angeles at the time that the singer was cooperating with authorities. He was on his world tour in Minneapolis when the remains were found, with a scheduled stop in Kansas City the following day.

In November 2025, an LAPD source with direct knowledge of the investigation told NBC Los Angeles that Burke had not been cooperative. That same month, LAPD publicly identified him as a suspect. In early 2026, Burke’s parents and brother, who live in Texas, sought to block Los Angeles grand jury subpoenas for their testimony through a Texas court. The judge declined to intervene, and the family members appeared to have been compelled to appear before the grand jury in February or March, though prosecutors declined to discuss grand jury proceedings, according to NBC Los Angeles.

The Victim and Her Family

Celeste Rivas Hernandez disappeared from the Lake Elsinore area on April 5, 2024, at age 13. Her remains were identified through forensics after workers at Hollywood Tow reported a strong odor coming from the Tesla. They were found, according to Los Angeles County grand jury documents, in two cadaver bags inside the front storage compartment. Her brother told NBC Los Angeles that family members were aware Celeste knew D4vd.

A neighbor who had created a street memorial for Celeste told NBC Los Angeles reporters on the evening of the arrest: “I started a memorial for her because she deserves justice, and it’s been 220 days. And when I heard the news today that he was finally arrested, I just got chills.”

Legal Status and Defense Response

Burke’s attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter issued a statement following the arrest: “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.” The attorneys noted that no grand jury indictment had been returned and no criminal complaint filed, and stated they would “vigorously defend David’s innocence.” Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has not been convicted. The case is proceeding through the Los Angeles County court system.

A Singer Who Rose Quickly

Burke grew up in Queens, New York, before moving to Texas as a teenager. He built an early following on YouTube through gaming content before transitioning to music, gaining significant traction on TikTok where he has 3.8 million followers. His song “Romantic Homicide” became one of the platform’s most-shared tracks and led to signings with Darkroom and Interscope Records. He released his debut album “Withered” in April 2025 and was midway through a world tour at the time Celeste’s remains were found. The case remains under active investigation by LAPD.

References: Singer and TikTok star D4vd arrested in murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez | D4vd arrested on suspicion of murder