Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has been arrested for murder in connection with the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered in a Tesla registered under his name.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest on April 16, seven months after the teenager's remains were found in the front trunk of the vehicle. The 21-year-old musician, known for hits like "Here With Me" and "Romantic Homicide," is currently being held without bail.
"Detectives from the LAPD have been investigating this case for months," the department stated. "The arrest follows extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death."
The grim discovery occurred on September 8 when police responded to reports of a foul odor coming from a Tesla in a Hollywood tow yard. The vehicle had been reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills area. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office later identified the severely decomposed remains as belonging to Rivas Hernandez, who had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore in April 2024 when she was just 13 years old.
While the official cause of death remains deferred, medical examiner records indicate the body had been in the vehicle for an extended period before discovery. The date of death was listed as September 8, though officials noted the advanced state of decomposition suggested the teen died much earlier.
Following the initial discovery in September, D4vd's spokesperson told media outlets the singer was "fully cooperating with authorities." The musician subsequently canceled part of his North American tour supporting his debut album "Withered."
D4vd rose to fame through social media platforms, initially gaining attention for Fortnite videos on YouTube before transitioning to music creation on TikTok, where several of his songs went viral. Born in Queens, New York, he moved to Houston, Texas at age 13 and began his music career after facing copyright issues with his gaming videos.
The case continues to develop as authorities pursue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Rivas Hernandez's death and her connection to the singer.