Singer d4vd, David Anthony Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the mystery disappearance of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez whose body was found in the singer’s discarded Tesla. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officer announced the charges on Monday. D4vd was arrested Thursday and is charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual acts, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and mutilating human remains, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference.D4vd could face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted.The disappearance of Celeste Rivas and the possible involvement of d4vd were the most followed news from Hollywood Hills last year as they were believed to be in a relationship. Celeste was underage when she died and the timeline of the crime got blurred, as what was recovered as her body was only her remains and she was killed much before that. In September 2025, the decomposed body of Celeste was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to d4vd while he was in Minneapolis on a world tour promoting his debut album. Days passed before it was confirmed that the remains were Celeste’s. It was not established clearly when she was killed until the district attorney on Monday read out the charge and said the body was there for four months.Celeste was first reported missing in February 2024 and she contacted her family for the last time in May 2024. The Tesla where her remains were found appeared where it was left to be parked in July 2025. It raised no suspicion initially. In August, it got a parking violation ticket as it was still parked in that same position. In September, the car was towed to a yard when the remains were found. Investigators found evidence that Celeste was alive in January 2025, almost through a year after she disappeared.
Motive revealed: Musical career was at stake
Hochman said Celese was a child but d4vd had sexual relations with her. And when Celeste threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, d4vd killed her.“Celeste was just a child, under 14 years old, when David Burke allegedly engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations with her,” District Attorney Hochman said. “But Burke’s actions did not allegedly stop there. 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. There the dismembered body sat for over four months decomposing until it was found at a tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025. This horrific and gruesome murder committed by the charged sexual predator is shocking and appalling. To Celeste’s loved ones, we will get the justice you seek and deserve.”Celeste was last seen on April 23, 2025 when d4vd invited her to his home. This was the last time she was ever seen.
