Los Angeles police arrested 21-year-old musician David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, on suspicion of murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Burke was taken into custody without bail and is expected to have the case forwarded to the district attorney’s office on Monday, April 20, 2026. His defense attorneys issued a statement to U.S. Media asserting that the evidence will show Burke did not commit the crime, emphasizing that no grand jury indictment or criminal conviction has been filed against him at this stage.
The remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez were discovered on September 8, 2025, in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, which had been impounded in Los Angeles after being reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills. Medical examiners described the body as severely decomposed, noting it had likely been in the vehicle for an extended period before discovery, though an exact cause of death has not yet been determined.
Investigators noted that the girl had been missing since April 2024, with her last known contact with family occurring in May 2024. She had run away from home multiple times in the final year of her life, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Office records. Neighbors in Lake Elsinore recalled her as a frequent visitor to a local convenience store where she bought candy and drinks.
Both Celeste Rivas Hernandez and David Burke were reported to have matching tattoos on their right pinky fingers bearing the phrase “Shhh…”, a detail that drew early attention from investigators despite Burke not being publicly named as a suspect at the time of the body’s discovery.
For more on this story, see Singer D4vd Arrested for Suspected Murder of Teen Found in Tesla.
In November 2024, a judge ordered the sealing of Celeste’s medical and investigative records to allow authorities to first gather complete information from medical experts, with the documents to be released only after that review. The major case squad began reviewing evidence in the case in December 2024.
Burke’s family was summoned from Texas to California to testify before the grand jury, during which his father attempted to challenge a subpoena and submitted materials from the California case that had not previously been made public. BBC-obtained documents identified Burke as a “target” in the Los Angeles major case squad’s investigation, indicating he is considered a central figure in the probe into a possible connection between him and the girl’s death.
The vehicle involved, a Tesla registered to Burke’s address in Texas, was examined by investigators who reported finding strongly decomposed human remains in the front trunk, wrapped in what was described as a lavender bag, according to court documents cited in the reporting.
This follows our earlier report, Singer D4vd Arrested for Murder of 14-Year-Old Found in Tesla.
Why was D4vd not arrested sooner despite the discovery of the body in September 2025?
Although the body was found in September 2025 and investigators noted suspicious circumstances, including the condition of the remains and the vehicle’s abandonment, Burke was not publicly named as a suspect until November 2024, when authorities identified him in connection with the case. The arrest followed months of ongoing investigation, including forensic analysis and grand jury proceedings.
What is the current legal status of David Burke in relation to the case?
David Burke is currently held without bail on suspicion of murder. His legal team maintains his innocence and states that no formal charges have been filed, no grand jury indictment has been issued, and no criminal conviction has been secured. He is being detained investigatively pending further legal proceedings.