U.S. artist D4vd has been taken into custody under suspicion of being involved in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose decomposed remains were discovered last year in a seemingly abandoned Tesla registered under his name and later removed from the Hollywood Hills, the police revealed on Thursday. The 21-year-old alt-pop singer, born in Houston and legally known as David Anthony Burke, is currently being detained without bail, as mentioned by the Los Angeles police in a concise statement. A case is set to be presented to the District Attorney’s Office on Monday for potential charges consideration.
In response to these allegations, defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter have asserted D4vd’s innocence, stating via email that the evidence will demonstrate that David Burke was not responsible for the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office acknowledged the arrest and confirmed that its major crimes division will review the case to assess the evidence for potential charges.
The defense team emphasized that no grand jury indictment or criminal complaint has been filed against David, highlighting that he is merely under suspicion and they will vigorously defend his innocence. This statement marks their first public declaration regarding the case, which previously refrained from publicly naming Burke as a suspect until his arrest, resulting in his incarceration without bail.
The investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a case that was clandestinely conducted by an L.A. County grand jury, was unveiled when D4vd was identified as the target within the probe, following objections filed by his family members in a Texas court. Despite multiple requests for comments from The Associated Press, representatives for the singer have remained unresponsive on the matter.
The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who would have turned 15 the day after her discovery on September 8, 2025, was found in a state of decomposition. Originally reported missing in 2024 from her residence in Lake Elsinore, approximately 112 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles, court documents state that she was 14 years old at the time of her demise.
Investigating officers examining the 2023 Tesla Model Y at a tow yard located a cadaver bag emitting a putrid odor, containing the decomposed remains of a head and torso, along with severed limbs in additional bags. The Medical Examiner’s Office in Los Angeles noted the extensive decomposition of Rivas Hernandez’s body, indicating a prolonged period post-death before its discovery, while the autopsy findings and cause of death have been withheld from public disclosure since November 2025.
D4vd, who was actively touring the U.S. during the investigation, eventually called off his shows and a planned European tour as his association with the case garnered widespread attention.