Singer D4vd Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of 14-Year-Old

Singer D4vd Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of 14-Year-Old Girl Found in Car Los Angeles County prosecutors announced on April 20, 2026, that singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, was charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Burke was arraigned the same day and pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Celeste’s decomposed and dismembered remains were found in the front trunk of Burke’s impounded Tesla on September 8, 2025. The vehicle had been seized months earlier, and the discovery followed a missing persons report filed by Celeste’s family in 2024, when she was 13 years old. Prosecutors allege that Burke engaged in repeated sexual abuse of Celeste over several months, beginning when she was under 14 years old. They state that he murdered her after she threatened to expose the abuse, which could have damaged his music career. Burke allegedly dismembered her body and placed the parts in two bags inside the car’s trunk, where they remained for over four months before being discovered. Burke, born March 28, 2005, faces one count each of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The criminal complaint includes special circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. Prosecutors also allege that Burke used a sharp instrument—a deadly and dangerous weapon—to commit the killing. During a press conference, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman described the crime as “brutal and horrific,” emphasizing that Celeste was a child who trusted Burke. He stated that the case would be pursued to secure justice for her family. Burke’s legal team maintains his innocence, asserting that evidence will show he did not cause Celeste’s death. They note that no indictment has been returned by a grand jury and that Burke has only been detained on suspicion thus far. The arraignment took place in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles. No trial date has been set as of the latest available information.