R&B singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, has been arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose severely decomposed body was found in his Tesla. The 21-year-old musician is being held without bail, police confirmed on Thursday.
The body was discovered in September at a tow yard in Hollywood after reports of a foul odour coming from the impounded vehicle, which had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills. The remains were later identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been missing since 2024 and was last seen in Lake Elsinore, around 60 miles south-east of downtown Los Angeles. The medical examiner determined she had been dead for an extended period before being found.
Burke’s case is to be presented to the district attorney’s office on Monday. His legal team—Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter—maintained his innocence, stating: “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.” The district attorney’s office said it would review the evidence to decide whether to file charges.
Burke, who was raised in Houston, rose to fame in 2022 with viral TikTok hits including Romantic Homicide, which has drawn renewed scrutiny for its lyrics about death. He collaborated with stars such as SZA and Kali Uchis, but his tour was cancelled after the discovery of Celeste’s body. Her brother, Matthew, told NBCLA in September that Celeste had said she was going to watch a film with Burke before she vanished. Authorities have not commented on the nature of their relationship.
