D4vd Charged With Murder in Death of Celeste Rivas
D4vd has been charged following his arrest on Thursday, Apr. 16 for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
At a press conference on Monday, Apr. 20, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that the singer, whose legal name is David Burke, will face a first-degree murder charge.
The murder charge includes special circumstances-lying in wait, committing crime for financial gain and murdering the witness in an investigation-that could carry the death penalty. However, prosecutors haven't announced if they will seek it.
Burke will also face charges for lewd acts with a child and for allegedly dismembering Hernandez's body. He is currently being held without bail.
RELATED: Singer D4vd Arrested for Murder of Celeste Rivas
On Sept. 8, 2025, Los Angeles police officers were called to a tow yard following reports of a foul odor coming from a Tesla on the property. In the trunk of the vehicle, police found a severely decomposed body placed inside of a bag which was later determined to be 14-year-old Hernandez.
The car was registered to Burke and impounded after being abandoned in the Hollywood Hills area, where neighbors complained of a rotting smell. The case has been treated as a death investigation since Sept. 9.
Hochman called the case "a parent's nightmare" on Monday and said Hernandez was last heard from on Apr. 23, 2025. Her cause of death has not been determined.
"Celeste, a 14-year-old at that time, went to Mr. Burke's house in the Hollywood Hills. She was never heard from again," Hochman said at the press conference.
In September, a spokesman for the singer said that he was "fully cooperating with authorities." However, in November, NBC Los Angeles reported that Burke was no longer cooperating with law enforcement.
Burke is best known for his collaborations with musicians Kali Uchi, Laufey, and 21 Savage. He also created an anthem for the video game "Fortnite."
Burke was on tour promoting his debut album Withered when Hernandez's body was found, which was canceled amid the investigation.
On Friday, Apr. 17, Burke's attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter said in a statement to People, "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."
"There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed," the statement added. "David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David's innocence."
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 1:38 PM.