David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, has been taken into custody by Los Angeles authorities following the discovery of a teenager's remains in a car registered under his name last year.
Law enforcement officials confirmed the arrest on Thursday, April 16, 2026, stating that Burke is being held without bail on suspicion of murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The case is scheduled for presentation to the District Attorney's office early next week.
"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," defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter stated in response to the arrest. "There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David's innocence."
The investigation began in September when severely decomposed remains were found in the front compartment of a Tesla that had been impounded in Los Angeles. The vehicle was registered to the musician, whose real name is David Anthony Burke.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was first reported missing in April 2024 when she was 13 years old. For months, investigators declined to classify the case as a homicide while awaiting conclusions from the medical examiner. The cause of death was initially listed as "deferred," with police suggesting the teenager may have died during the spring.
By late 2025, authorities had identified Burke as a suspect in the case. Reports indicated that while he initially cooperated with investigators, his level of cooperation diminished as the investigation progressed.
In the months following the discovery, several developments emerged:
- Investigators explored the possibility that the body had been frozen before being placed in the vehicle
- Residents in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood reported seeing the Tesla parked in their area for over a month
- Burke received a parking ticket in the same neighborhood approximately two weeks before the body was discovered
As the investigation unfolded, the musician canceled his U.S. tour and shelved plans to release a deluxe edition of his debut album "Withered." His European and UK tour dates were subsequently removed from websites.
Burke's manager, Josh Marshall, addressed the investigation publicly in October, denying accusations made on social media regarding his involvement in the case.