Category: Music Industry Disputes and Releases

A shocking development has emerged in the music world: platinum-selling artist D4vd has been arrested on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The arrest comes seven months after Los Angeles police discovered the teen’s severely decomposed and dismembered body in the trunk of his impounded Tesla.

Arrest and Investigation Details

D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was taken into custody on Thursday, April 16, 2026, without bail. Law enforcement sources confirmed that detectives had obtained a probable-cause warrant for his arrest. Video footage reportedly shows heavily armed LAPD officers escorting Burke away from his Hollywood Hills home.

Police announced the arrest on social media, stating that Burke is being held without bail and that the case will be presented to the District Attorney’s office for filing consideration on Monday. Burke’s defense lawyers, however, have issued a strong statement denying his involvement, asserting that “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 Grisly Discovery in the Tesla

The investigation began in September 2025 when Burke was out of state on tour. His dented 2023 Tesla Model Y was towed from the Bird Streets neighborhood of the Hollywood Hills. A tow yard employee alerted police after noticing a foul odor emanating from the vehicle and attracting flies. Upon opening the trunk, detectives discovered Rivas’s decomposed head and torso in a bag, with severed arms and legs found in a second bag underneath.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the body was “severely decomposed” and had likely been deceased for an “extended period of time.” The cause of death was listed as “deferred” at the time, and authorities had placed a security hold on the autopsy findings, which the ME’s office opposed.

Unsealing Documents and Identifying the Victim

Details about the investigation remained sealed for months. However, sealed documents were eventually made public after Burke’s parents and brother challenged subpoenas in Texas. These documents identified Burke as the “target” of a murder probe. Rivas was identified by friends and family as a missing teen from Lake Elsinore, who had reportedly been dating someone named ‘David’ before her death.

Online photos suggest a resemblance between Rivas and a girl pictured with Burke. The medical examiner noted Rivas had a tattoo on her right index finger that read, “Shhh…,” similar to a tattoo seen on Burke in a Getty Images photo. Rivas’s family declined to speak with reporters, but a friend described her as “sweet and studious.”

Artist’s Career and Brand Reactions

Burke, who rose to fame with hits like “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me,” had continued touring and releasing music, including his debut studio album ‘Withered’ in April 2025. However, following Rivas’s identification, fashion brands Crocs and Hollister, who had featured Burke in a campaign, removed his content. Kali Uchis, who featured on Burke’s album, also distanced herself, stating she wasn’t friends with him and was working to remove their song from streaming services.

The District Attorney’s office confirmed they are reviewing the case and will determine whether to file charges. The legal team for David Burke maintains his innocence, emphasizing that he has only been detained on suspicion and will be vigorously defended.