Singer d4vd Arrested in Teen Killing as Prosecutors Weigh Murder Charges
Singer d4vd, born David Burke, was arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenager's dismembered remains were found in his Tesla, Los Angeles police say. Police say the victim was 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was reported missing at 13 from Lake Elsinore in 2024. Her body was discovered Sept. 8, 2025, inside a 2023 Tesla Model Y that had been towed from an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood.
Court and police documents say dismembered remains were in cadaver bags in the car's front storage compartment and a second bag held severed arms and legs. LAPD arrested Burke and is holding him without bail, but the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Major Crimes Division will review the case before deciding whether to file charges. A secret grand jury had been investigating and subpoenaed Burke's parents and brother in Texas, with some court documents naming him as the focus of a murder count.
Reporting diverged after initial coverage: the New York Times reported that prosecutors had formally charged Burke, while Fox, NPR and PBS emphasized he was arrested on suspicion and that prosecutors had not yet filed charges. That shift matters because a formal charge triggers different legal steps than an arrest and because public expectations were shaped by early reports. Burke's attorneys say he did not kill Celeste and vow to vigorously defend his innocence, while social media reaction ranges from calls for harsh punishment to calls for a careful, evidence-based investigation. Authorities have not publicly released a cause of death, and prosecutors are expected to receive the police file for review before any charging decision.
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This story is compiled from 6 sources using AI-assisted curation and analysis. Original reporting is attributed below. Learn about our methodology.
📌 Key Facts
- David Burke, the singer known as d4vd, was arrested by the LAPD and is being held without bail; sources conflict on charging status — The New York Times reports prosecutors have formally charged him in connection with the death, while Fox, NPR and PBS say the case was to be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Major Crimes Division for review on Monday and that no indictment or complaint had yet been publicly filed at the time of their reporting.
- The victim is identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was reported missing from Lake Elsinore at age 13 in 2024; authorities list her as 14 at the time she was killed, and her body was found Sept. 8, 2025 — one day after what would have been her 15th birthday.
- Investigators discovered dismembered, decomposed remains in cadaver bags inside a 2023 Tesla Model Y that had been towed from an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood after appearing abandoned; documents and reporting say a bag in the front storage compartment contained a decomposed head and torso and a second bag contained severed arms and legs.
- Court and investigative documents describe graphic forensic details at the scene and tow-yard search, including a cadaver bag covered with insects and a strong odor of decay, though authorities have not publicly released an official cause of death.
- A Los Angeles County grand jury had been secretly investigating the case; documents show Burke was named as the grand jury’s target and that his parents and brother received subpoenas in Texas and sought to quash them.
- The DA’s Major Crimes Division was reported to be reviewing the file to decide whether to file charges; reporting also notes police previously blocked public release of autopsy findings in November.
- Burke’s defense team issued a public statement — including three named attorneys — asserting he did not murder Celeste and vowing to vigorously defend his innocence; earlier, Burke’s representatives had not responded to some requests for comment.
- The discovery and investigation have affected Burke’s career activities, with tour dates canceled after the body was found.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
April 17, 2026
5:55 PM
What to know about singer D4vd's arrest in 14-year-old's killing
New information:
- Clarifies that David Burke has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has not yet been charged; the DA's Major Crimes Division is reviewing the case.
- Notes prosecutors are expected to receive the case Monday and will then decide whether to file charges.
- Details a defense statement from three named attorneys explicitly asserting Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and vowing to "vigorously" defend his innocence.
- Provides additional narrative on Celeste Rivas Hernandez's disappearance from Lake Elsinore at age 13 and confirms authorities list her age as 14 at the time she was killed.
- Reiterates and elaborates on autopsy-related secrecy, including police blocking public release of the autopsy findings in November.
- Adds more career context on Burke's tour and cancellations tied to the discovery of the body.
3:40 PM
Singer D4vd is arrested in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
New information:
- Confirms LAPD has arrested David Burke (d4vd) on suspicion of murder in the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and is holding him without bail.
- Clarifies that the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Major Crimes Division will review the case Monday to decide whether to file charges; no indictment or complaint has yet been filed.
- Details the condition and discovery of Celeste's body: dismembered remains in cadaver bags inside Burke's apparently abandoned 2023 Tesla Model Y towed from a Hollywood Hills neighborhood.
- Documents that Burke has been a formal target of an LA County grand jury investigation, revealed when his parents and brother moved in Texas court to quash subpoenas.
- Provides first public statement from Burke's defense team, explicitly asserting he did not murder Celeste and vowing to vigorously defend his innocence.
- Reiterates Celeste's disappearance history: reported missing at age 13 from Lake Elsinore in 2024, body found Sept. 8, 2025, the day after what would have been her 15th birthday.
2:19 AM
Singer D4vd is arrested months after a teen's remains were found in his car
New information:
- Confirms LAPD statement that David Burke (d4vd) was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held without bail in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
- Details that LAPD plans to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Monday and that the DA's Major Crimes Division will review whether to file charges.
- Adds specific narrative about how the body was discovered: Tesla towed from an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood after sitting apparently abandoned, then searched at a tow yard.
- Provides graphic forensic details from court documents: cadaver bag covered with insects and strong odor of decay, decomposed head and torso observed, arms and legs severed and found in a second bag.
- Clarifies victim timeline: Celeste was reported missing at 13 in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, was 14 when killed, and her body was found Sept. 8, 2025, one day after what would have been her 15th birthday.
- Reiterates that a Los Angeles County grand jury had already been secretly investigating Burke and that his parents and brother were subpoenaed in Texas, revealing him as the grand jury’s target.
- Notes that no cause of death has been publicly released and that Burke’s representatives have not responded to multiple AP requests for comment.
1:55 AM
Singer D4vd arrested and held without bail in case tied to teen found dead in Tesla: Police
New information:
- LAPD publicly states that David Burke (d4vd) is being held without bail following his arrest.
- LAPD says the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Monday for filing consideration, indicating charges are not yet formally filed.
- Fox reproduces grand jury subpoena language specifying that the Tesla was a 2023 Model Y, that a cadaver bag containing a decomposed, dismembered body was found in the front storage compartment, and that a second bag contained severed arms and legs.
- The article reconfirms, via AP-cited documents, that Burke was the grand jury’s named target for one count of murder and that three relatives received subpoenas for testimony.
- Timeline detail that Hernandez was reported missing as a 13‑year‑old in 2024 and was 14 when killed; her body was found Sept. 8, 2025, one day after what would have been her 15th birthday.
1:22 AM
D4vd Arrested in Connection With Death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
New information:
- Confirms that Los Angeles prosecutors have formally charged d4vd in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, not just arrested him on suspicion.
- Provides the victim’s full name, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, and clarifies her age and status as a teenager (if specified in the NYT piece).
- Adds details about the circumstances of the incident involving a Tesla (as implied by the URL), including where and how the body was discovered and any new timeline specifics.
- Includes new quotes or statements from law enforcement, prosecutors or defense counsel regarding the nature of the charges and next court dates.