Singer D4vd charged with murder in slaying of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez

Richard Winton and James Queally, Los Angeles Times on Apr 20, 2026

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LOS ANGELES — David Anthony Burke — the 21-year-old music star better known as D4vd — repeatedly sexually abused a 14-year-old girl before murdering her and dismembering her body in order to protect his ascendant music career, prosecutors alleged Monday.

Burke was charged with murder, repeated sexual abuse of a minor and mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, according to a criminal complaint made public late Monday morning.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said “the brutal and horrific murder” happened last April, when Hernandez was last seen entering Burke’s Hollywood Hills home. After that, Hochman said, she was “not heard from again.”

“A parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back,” he said.

D4vd has been linked to the girl’s death for months, after reports surfaced that Celeste’s badly decomposed body was found in the trunk of a Tesla that belonged to the singer at a Hollywood tow yard. According to the complaint filed Monday, Burke killed Celeste on April 23, 2025, then mutilated her corpse about two weeks later in early May.

Burke has denied all wrongdoing through his attorneys.

“Let us be clear — 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,” his legal team of Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said in a statement.

Hochman said there is “physical, forensic and digital” evidence tying the singer to the crime.

The prosecutor’s office filed murder with special circumstances charges Monday, alleging Burke killed Celeste for financial gain and because she was a witness to a crime — her own sexual abuse at the singer’s hands. The abuse started on Sept. 7, 2023 — Celeste’s 13th birthday — and ended one year, later according to the complaint.

If convicted as charged, Burke would face life in prison without the possibility of parole — or, potentially, the death penalty. A review board will be convened to determine whether prosecutors can seek capital punishment

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said authorities had learned in the investigation that Burke was sexually abusing the 14-year-old, but authorities declined to elaborate on the details of how they believe it was linked to her disappearance.

Police were not actively investigating the abuse at the time Celeste disappeared, according to Josh Rubenstein, communications director for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Hochman also said the killing was committed for financial gain, so that Burke could “maintain his very lucrative musical career,” which Celeste posed a threat to. Her family is expected to hold a news conference Monday afternoon, following Burke’s scheduled appearance in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom.

He was arrested by Los Angeles police late last Thursday at a residence in Hollywood near Sunset Boulevard. He surrendered after a phalanx of heavily armed officers stormed the street.

Celeste was reported missing in Riverside County last summer. Her body was found in the trunk of a Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025, a day after her 15th birthday, and news quickly surfaced that the vehicle was registered to Burke. The ascendant singer — whose music features in the wildly popular video game “Fortnite” and who has collaborated with Kali Uchis and 21 Savage — had just started a national tour in support of his debut album, “Withered,” when reports surfaced of his potential link to the teen’s death.

As Burke canceled his tour, investigators began meticulously building a case. In November, the Los Angeles Times reported that L.A. County prosecutors had convened a secret grand jury to collect evidence in connection with Celeste’s killing. Investigative grand juries cannot return indictments against defendants, but they are often used to enshrine evidence and subpoena witnesses for a future criminal proceeding. Earlier this year, a member of D4vd’s entourage, Neo Langston, was arrested in Montana after he attempted to avoid appearing before the L.A. grand jury.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office was barred from revealing a cause of death in the case, but court records made public in February said Celeste’s limbs were severed from her body when she was found.

Hochman said prosecutors will make court filings that will allow the coroner to release the details of the girl’s death. The medical examiner’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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