D4vd Arrested and Charged in Connection With Death of Teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez

20-year-old David Anthony Burke, known by his artist name D4vd, has been arrested in connection with the death of missing teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The Los Angeles Police Department stated that the artist is being held without bail.

D4vd, who comes from Houston, Texas, became known in 2021–2022 after his songs “Here with Me” and “Romantic Homicide” went viral on social media platforms. He rocketed to success and began touring, achieving mainstream success throughout 2023–2025.
He went on to sign with Darkroom and Interscope Records.

In April 2024, 14-year-old Rivas Hernandez was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California.

On September 8, 2025, her remains were discovered in Los Angeles. This came just a day after what would have been her fifteenth birthday. They were found in the trunk of an impounded 2023 Tesla Model Y on the 1000 block of N. Mansfield Avenue.

Workers in the area were led to the vehicle by a strong odor and reported it to police. Officers later discovered the remains in the front trunk of the Tesla.

She was reported to be wearing a yellow tube top and black leggings.

A tattoo that read “Shhh” was found on her index finger.

The vehicle was later identified as being registered to D4vd. It was reportedly abandoned in the Hollywood Hills before being towed to the lot where it was impounded.

The victim’s body, said to have been found in bags, was severely decomposed, making it difficult to determine the time and cause of death.

Investigators believe that she was killed sometime in the spring of 2025 and have considered the possibility that a second person may have been involved.

Around the same time, Burke’s Hollywood Hills home was searched and his digital devices were seized by police.

Following the discovery, Burke continued performing for a period before later stopping touring and public appearances.

The BBC reports that Rivas Hernandez had a tattoo on her index finger that read “Shhh.” Burke reportedly has the same tattoo.

After the victim was officially identified, TMZ reported that her mother had said her daughter had been dating a man named “David.”

This detail led fans of the singer to comb through his social media posts. They searched for evidence of him being in a relationship with the then 14-year-old victim.

Although official reports have not shared much information on the link between Burke and the victim, many following the case online have speculated about a potential romantic relationship between the pair.

Fox11 Los Angeles published an article on September 26, 2025, titled: “D4vd and Celeste ‘romantically involved,’ friends say.” The article detailed friends of Burke who allegedly told the outlet they “frequently saw the couple together” and believed Celeste was “a 19-year-old student at USC.” They also claimed the pair were romantically involved.

It is important to note that these claims have not been confirmed by law enforcement.

Following the arrest, fans, as well as those following the case, began to take a closer look at his lyrics, specifically “Romantic Homicide,” which includes the lines:

“In the back of my mind
You died
And I didn’t even cry
No, not a single tear
And I’m sick of waiting patiently
For someone that won’t even arrive”

“In the back of my mind I killed you
And I didn’t even regret it
I can’t believe I said it
But it’s true I hate you.”

Some online observers pointed to these lyrics following the arrest, though there is no evidence linking the song to the case.

The music video for the song features the singer’s fictional alter ego, IT4MI, derived from the Japanese word “itami,” meaning pain. This character appeared in the music video for “Romantic Homicide.”

The Medical Examiner has officially ruled Rivas Hernandez’s death a homicide.

According to Eyewitness News 7, unsealed court documents refer to Burke as a “target” and state: “It is alleged in this case that the target may be involved in the death of 14-year-old victim Celeste Rivas Hernandez.”

Burke’s lawyers made a statement regarding his arrest, saying: “Let us be clear- 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.”
“There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. He has only been detained under suspicion.”

Update: On April 20, 2026, Los Angeles Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office announced that David Anthony “D4vd” Burke will be charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances of lying in wait and financial gain.

Other charges include mutilation of a body and lewd and lascivious acts involving a minor under 14.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who announced the charges, said in a statement that the singer had “engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations” with the victim when she was under 14 years old, adding: “When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car.”

Burke has pleaded not guilty to the charges.