D4vd Arrested in Teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez Murder: Body Found in Singer's Tesla Trunk | Thump Music

LOS ANGELES — Rising alt-pop singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed and dismembered remains were discovered last September in the trunk of a Tesla registered to the artist.

Los Angeles Police Department homicide detectives took Burke, 21, into custody at a residence in the Hollywood Hills shortly after 4:30 p.m. He is being held without bail at the LAPD’s 77th Street jail. Authorities said the case will be presented to the district attorney’s office on Monday, April 20, for a decision on formal charges.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, from Lake Elsinore, California, had been reported missing in 2024 (some accounts reference her as 13 or 14 at the time of disappearance). On September 8, 2025, workers at an impound lot in Hollywood noticed a foul odor coming from an abandoned Tesla. Inside the trunk, they found severely decomposed human remains later identified as those of the teenager; reports indicate the body had been dismembered, with arms and legs severed.

The vehicle was registered to Burke. Police identified him as a suspect by November 2025, and a grand jury investigation reportedly examined links between the singer and the victim, including evidence found at a rented property associated with him. Burke was arrested roughly seven months after the grim discovery.

D4vd, born in Houston and known for indie-leaning tracks that gained popularity with Gen Z audiences (including the song “Romantic Homicide”), had been living in the Los Angeles area. Video footage captured by media outlets showed a tense arrest scene as officers approached the Hollywood Hills home.

Attorneys for Burke have strongly denied the allegations, stating that their client “did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez” and was not the cause of her death. They maintain his innocence as the investigation continues.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office confirmed it is aware of the arrest and that its Major Crimes Division will review the evidence to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to file charges. No charges had been filed as of Friday.The case has drawn widespread attention, with a memorial reported for the teenager in Lake Elsinore following news of the arrest. Friends and family have described Celeste as a “beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend.”

This is a developing story. Authorities have released limited details about the motive or circumstances surrounding the teen’s death, and Burke is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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