Gruesome Discovery Sparked Probe (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Los Angeles — Authorities arrested singer D4vd on Thursday in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose severely decomposed remains turned up seven months earlier in the trunk of his impounded Tesla.[1][2] The Los Angeles Police Department took the 21-year-old artist, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, into custody at a Hollywood residence after tactical officers forced entry with a battering ram.[2] He faces no formal charges yet but remains held without bail pending review by the district attorney’s office.[3]
Gruesome Discovery Sparked Probe
On September 8, 2025, workers at a Hollywood tow yard noticed a foul odor emanating from a 2023 Tesla Model Y that had sat abandoned for days.[1] The vehicle, registered to Burke, had been towed from the Hollywood Hills after parking violations.[4] Investigators from the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division searched the front storage compartment and uncovered a black cadaver bag swarming with insects and reeking of decay.
Inside lay a decomposed head and torso, while severed arms and legs rested in a second bag below.[2] The remains belonged to Hernandez, a Lake Elsinore resident reported missing multiple times in 2024 after running away from home.[1] Medical examiners later confirmed she had been dead for weeks, possibly since spring, and weighed just 71 pounds with a distinctive “Shhh” tattoo on her finger.[2]
From Houston Roots to TikTok Stardom
David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, rose from Houston obscurity to music prominence starting in 2022.[1] His lo-fi track “Romantic Homicide” exploded on TikTok, peaking at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart and earning him deals with Darkroom and Interscope Records.[3] Follow-up releases like the 2023 albums Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals built his fanbase.
By April 2025, D4vd dropped his debut Withered, which charted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and amassed over 521 million Spotify streams.[2] He toured North America that summer, opening for acts like SZA and performing at Coachella, though themes of loss and grief permeated his shows—complete with caskets for fans to sign.[3] The tour halted amid scrutiny over the Tesla case.
Investigation Unfolded Over Months
LAPD detectives moved quickly after the September discovery, executing a search warrant at Burke’s former Doheny Drive home and seizing electronics.[2] Prosecutors convened a grand jury in November 2025, issuing subpoenas to three of his relatives in January 2026.[1] Court documents named Burke as a target, alleging he “may be involved” in the murder.[4]
Details emerged slowly: the Tesla had idled on Bluebird Avenue since late July 2025, and Hernandez may have connected with Burke online before staying at one of his rentals.[2] A judge sealed the autopsy report to safeguard the probe, drawing rare criticism from the medical examiner.[4]
- February 2024: First missing report for Hernandez.
- Spring 2025: Estimated time of death.
- September 8, 2025: Remains found.
- November 2025: Grand jury begins.
- February 2026: Burke confirmed as target.
- April 16, 2026: Arrest in Hollywood.
Attorneys Vow Vigorous Defense
Burke’s legal team, including Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, issued a statement denying involvement.[2] “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,” they said.[3] No indictment has come from the grand jury, and they stressed he faces only suspicion for now.
The LAPD announced the arrest via social media: “Detectives from Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division have arrested David Burke… for the murder of Celeste Rivas.”[1] Prosecutors plan to present the case to the district attorney’s Major Crimes Division on Monday, where Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman will evaluate evidence for potential charges.[2]
A community’s grief lingers in Lake Elsinore, where memorials honor the girl who vanished too soon, while fans grapple with their idol’s sudden fall from grace. The coming weeks will reveal whether evidence solidifies into charges or crumbles under scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
- D4vd’s Tesla held dismembered remains detected by odor at a tow yard.
- Probe spanned grand jury subpoenas and searches before Thursday’s raid.
- No charges filed; defense insists evidence clears the singer.
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