U.S. artist D4vd was taken into custody on suspicion of being involved in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose remains were discovered last year in a Tesla belonging to him that was found abandoned in the Hollywood Hills. The Los Angeles police revealed that the 21-year-old singer, born in Houston and known legally as David Anthony Burke, is being detained without bail. The authorities plan to present a case to the District Attorney’s Office for potential charges on Monday.
In response to the accusations, defense lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter asserted in an email that the evidence would demonstrate David Burke’s innocence in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The District Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles stated that they are evaluating the evidence to determine if charges should be filed.
The defense team emphasized that there has been no formal indictment or criminal complaint against David Burke, who is being held under suspicion. This statement marks their first public defense of Burke since his arrest. The investigation centered around the deceased Celeste Rivas Hernandez, with D4vd being identified as the focal point of the inquiry.
The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was discovered on September 8, 2025, a day following what would have been her 15th birthday. She was reported missing by her family in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, approximately 112 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles. Authorities disclosed that she was 14 at the time of her death.
Court documents described the grim discovery in the Tesla Model Y, including a cadaver bag emitting a strong odor of decay and containing decomposed body parts. The medical examiner’s office confirmed the severe decomposition of the body and the separation of limbs. The autopsy findings have been withheld by court order, delaying the disclosure of the cause of death.
Despite initially continuing his tour, D4vd eventually canceled his remaining shows and a European tour as his connection to the case came to light. The singer had faced scrutiny since the investigation began, with his family members being summoned to testify in California.
The unfolding case has attracted significant attention, prompting a halt in the singer’s professional engagements as legal proceedings continue.