Singer D4vd Arrested in Teen's Gruesome Murder Case

Alt-pop singer D4vd, identified as David Anthony Burke, was arrested on Thursday, April 17, 2026, by Los Angeles police in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The investigation gained significant traction after the teenager's dismembered remains were found in cadaver bags within a Tesla Model Y. This vehicle was registered to Burke and was discovered at a tow yard on September 8, 2025, just one day after the teen would have turned 15.

The seventh grader had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore, approximately 70 miles from Los Angeles, earlier in 2025. Reports suggest Rivas Hernandez may have been living with Burke during the period she was missing. Police sources indicate the singer had been identified as a suspect since November 2025, and a grand jury investigation became public in February 2026.

Burke's legal representatives, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, have stated that their client is innocent. They emphasized that no indictment or criminal complaint has been filed, and Burke is currently detained only on suspicion. The defense team is confident that the evidence will ultimately exonerate him.

Authorities plan to present the case to the district attorney's office for filing consideration on Monday, April 21, 2026. The cause of death for Rivas Hernandez has not yet been officially released, and the Los Angeles police had previously sought to prevent the chief medical examiner from disclosing autopsy findings, citing the need to preserve the investigation's integrity.