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 last year in an abandoned Tesla car linked to him and towed from the Hollywood Hills, as per the police announcement made on Thursday. The 21-year-old alternative pop singer, born in Houston and legally known as David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail, according to the Los Angeles police. They plan to submit the case to the District Attorney’s Office for potential charges on Monday. In response, defense lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter stated via email that the evidence will prove David Burke’s innocence in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The police are set to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Monday for review by its major crimes division. The District Attorney’s Office confirmed awareness of the arrest and stated they would assess the evidence to determine if charges should be filed. The defense team emphasized that no grand jury indictment or criminal complaint has been issued against David, and he is currently detained on suspicion only. They pledged to vehemently defend his innocence.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body was discovered on September 8, 2025, a day after what would have been her 15th birthday. She went missing in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, her hometown located around 112 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles, at the age of 13. Court documents indicate she was 14 when she was killed. Police found her remains in a cadaver bag inside a 2023 Tesla Model Y at a tow yard, with her body parts severed and in an advanced state of decomposition.
Following the discovery, the singer initially continued his U.S. tour but later canceled his remaining shows and a European tour as news of his involvement in the case spread. Despite multiple requests for comment, the singer’s representatives have not responded to inquiries from The Associated Press.
