Prosecutors allege the 21-year-old singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, killed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to prevent her from exposing their illegal sexual relationship and damaging his music career
Prosecutors have shared new details in the case involving d4vd, outlining allegations related to the death of a teenage girl. Officials indicated that investigators are focusing on specific evidence as part of the ongoing legal process.
The 21-year-old singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is facing one count each of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a press release shared on Monday, April 20. He was expected to be arraigned on the charges Monday afternoon.
“The criminal complaint also includes special circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain and lying in wait as well as a special allegation that Burke personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime,” Hochman said, per the release.
Hochman alleged Burke killed the 14-year-old girl on April 23, 2025, later dismembered her, and stuffed her remains in two bags that were placed into the trunk of his Tesla and left there for four months.
Burke is also accused of engaging in “repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations” with Rivas when she was under 14, per the release.
Prosecutors believe Burke killed Rivas “after she allegedly threatened to expose his conduct and damage his music career,” the release states. The girl’s remains were found at a tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025, after the LAPD received reports of a foul odor coming from a Tesla, authorities have said.
Burke’s car was impounded after it was reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills, prosecutors said. The singer was touring North America at the time of the discovery and canceled the remaining dates after the news broke.
“This horrific and gruesome murder committed by the charged sexual predator is shocking and appalling,” Hochman alleged in the release. “To Celeste’s loved ones, we will get the justice you seek and deserve.”
It’s unclear if or when authorities will publicly share Rivas’ cause of death since they were granted a request to seal her autopsy findings amid the investigation.
Burke was arrested on April 16 and has been held without bail since. If convicted as charged, he faces the death penalty or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Hochman said at a press conference earlier on Monday that his office had not decided whether to pursue the death penalty.
“Let us be clear – 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,” Burke’s attorneys, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, previously said in a statement.
Following the suspect’s arrest, Rivas’ father released a statement through attorney Patrick Steinfeld, saying, “Thank God … justice for Celeste.” Steinfeld added that the family is “committed to ensuring that Celeste’s voice is heard and her memory is honored throughout this process.”
