US singer D4vd charged with murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Consensus Summary
Multiple news sources report that US singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, has been charged with the first-degree murder, sexual abuse, and mutilation of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his Tesla on September 8, 2025, in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege Burke engaged in a sexual relationship with Celeste starting when she was 13 and killed her on April 23, 2025, to silence her and protect his music career. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed her death was caused by multiple penetrating injuries, with significant torso wounds. Burke, 21, was arrested on April 17, 2026, and pleaded not guilty. His legal team denies the charges, claiming evidence will prove his innocence. Celeste’s parents broke their silence in April 2026, calling for justice and describing her as a 'beautiful, strong girl.' The case involves allegations of child sexual abuse images found on Burke’s devices, dismemberment with chainsaws, and a vast digital evidence trail. The Tesla, registered to Burke, was found abandoned with a foul odor, leading to the discovery of her remains in two cadaver bags. The investigation had been secret until February 2026, when Burke’s family objected to subpoenas in Texas court.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- David Anthony Burke (aka D4vd), a 21-year-old alt-pop singer, was charged with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14, and mutilating a dead body in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
- Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl, was reported missing in 2024 when she was 13, and her dismembered body was found in a Tesla registered to D4vd on September 8, 2025, in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.
- The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined Celeste died from 'multiple penetrating injuries' (autopsy report released April 2026), with significant wounds to her torso, including one that penetrated her liver.
- D4vd was arrested on April 17, 2026, at a home in Hollywood, and pleaded not guilty on April 20, 2026.
- Celeste’s remains were found in two cadaver bags inside the Tesla’s trunk, with body parts dismembered and decomposed, and the vehicle was registered to D4vd at his family’s Texas address.
- Prosecutors allege D4vd engaged in a sexual relationship with Celeste starting when she was 13, and killed her on April 23, 2025, to silence her about the abuse and protect his music career.
- Celeste’s parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, made their first public statement on April 22, 2026, calling for justice and describing her as a 'beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance.'
- D4vd’s Tesla (a 2023 Model Y) was found abandoned in an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood, and the vehicle had been towed due to a foul odor.
- D4vd’s legal team has consistently denied his involvement, stating 'the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.'
- Celeste had a tattoo reading 'Shhh...' on the inside of her finger, and two of her fingers were missing from her remains.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Prosecutors allege special circumstances in the murder charge: lying in wait, committing the crime for financial gain, and murdering a witness to an investigation, which could carry the death penalty (though prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek it).
- D4vd’s lawyers first publicly weighed in on April 17, 2026, with a statement denying his involvement.
- The grand jury investigation into Celeste’s death was officially secret but was revealed in February 2026 when D4vd’s family objected to subpoenas in a Texas court.
- D4vd’s hit song 'Romantic Homicide' (2022) peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
- The Tesla was registered in D4vd’s name at his family’s Texas address, according to court filings.
- Prosecutors allege D4vd purchased two chainsaws to dismember Celeste’s body in an inflatable pool, and her DNA was found in his garage.
- Celeste ran away from home twice in 2024: first in February, then after returning home, she left again and spent time at D4vd’s home.
- D4vd allegedly paid a friend of Celeste’s $1,000 to give her a phone to maintain contact after her parents took it away.
- Prosecutors found child sexual abuse images of Celeste on D4vd’s iCloud account, described as a 'significant amount of child pornography.'
- Celeste traveled with D4vd to Las Vegas, London, and Texas, where she met his family.
- The prosecution collected about '40 terabytes' of evidence, including Burke’s phone, iCloud, search warrants, and witness testimony.
- Celeste had braces at the time of her death, and her body was so degraded that examiners could not determine her eye color.
- The GoFundMe for Celeste’s family described her as a 'beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend,' and a missing person poster noted she was last seen wearing Hello Kitty sandals.
- A family friend described Celeste as 'studious, a hard worker, and intelligent.'
- The Tesla’s trunk contained one cadaver bag 'covered with insects and a strong odor of decay,' with a second bag underneath containing further dismembered body parts.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian and Newscomau state Celeste’s body was found on September 8, 2025, but ABC does not specify the exact date, only that it was found in September 2025.
- ABC states the Tesla was found 'a day after she would have turned 15,' while Guardian and Newscomau say it was found 'a day after she would have turned 15' (consensus on this, but ABC emphasizes the timing differently in phrasing).
- Guardian alleges D4vd killed Celeste 'very soon after her arrival at his home' (April 23, 2025), while ABC does not specify the exact timing of her death beyond her being 14 when she died.
- ABC mentions the autopsy details were blocked by a judge, while Guardian and Newscomau state the report was sealed but later released after prosecutors lifted the order in April 2026.
- Guardian specifies Celeste had a tattoo reading 'Shhh...' on the inside of her index finger, while Newscomau says it was on the inside of 'a finger' without specifying which one.
Source Articles
US singer D4vd charged with murdering 14yo girl found in his Tesla
The 21-year-old, who rose to fame after going viral on TikTok, is facing charges including first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and mutilating a body.
Prosecutors release detailed description of how D4vd allegedly killed teen girl
New court document made public in case of singer charged with murder and sexual abuse of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Prosecutors described in a new court document how D4vd, who has been charged with the murder and sexual abuse of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, allegedly fatally stabbed her to prevent the teen from speaking out about the abuse. The singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, killed Celeste to protect his music career, prosecutors said in a brief. He met Celeste when she wa
Teen whom singer D4vd is charged with killing died from penetrating wounds
Autopsy of Celeste Rivas Hernandez finally released after law enforcement had requested it be sealed in November Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl whom the singer D4vd is charged with killing, died from penetrating injuries, according to an autopsy report released on Wednesday after a months-long delay. The Los Angeles county medical examiner’s office had in December determined that her death was a homicide
D4vd arrested on suspicion of murder months after body of teen girl found
The 21-year-old musician, born David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail, according to city authorities R&B singer D4vd has been arrested on suspicion of murder, months after the severely decomposed body of a teenage girl was found in his Tesla, Los Angeles police said on Thursday. The 21-year-old musician, who was born David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail, according to city authorities. Continue reading...
D4vd possessed child sexual abuse images, LA murder prosecutors say
Police allegedly found images on iCloud account of singer accused of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez A Los Angeles prosecutor said that the singer D4vd, who was charged this week in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was in possession of a “significant amount of child pornography”. Police allegedly found the images on the iCloud account of the 21-year-old singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke. Continue reading...
Teen’s cause of death revealed after D4vd’s arrest
After months of delay, the cause of death for 14-year-old girl, who was found dead in the boot of US singer D4vd’s Tesla, has been released.
Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of 14-year-old girl found in his car
Musician charged after the dismembered and decomposing body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez found in abandoned Tesla The singer D4vd pleaded not guilty to the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez , the teenage girl whose dismembered and decomposed body was found in the artist’s apparently abandoned Tesla in September. The 21-year-old, whose legal name is David Burke, was arraigned on Monday afternoon hours after Los Angeles county district attorney’s office announced the charges against him. Continue re
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