Singer Charged in Gruesome Tesla Body Discovery

Singer D4vd, identified as David Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her dismembered and decomposed body was found inside a Tesla in the Hollywood Hills on September 8, 2026. The vehicle had been towed from an apparently abandoned state.

Rivas Hernandez was reported missing by her family from Lake Elsinore, approximately 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles, in 2024. Authorities had not publicly named Burke as a suspect until his arrest on Thursday at a Hollywood residence. His legal team asserted his innocence, promising vigorous defense.

Investigators discovered a cadaver bag with a strong odor of decay within the Tesla. Upon inspection, they found a head and torso, with subsequent examination revealing severed arms and legs. The cause of death remains undisclosed, with a court order blocking the release of autopsy details.

The 2023 Tesla Model Y was registered to Burke at his family's Texas address. The investigation had been ongoing under an LA county grand jury, the existence of which was revealed when Burke's family members opposed subpoenas in a Texas court. D4vd gained popularity for his viral hit 'Romantic Homicide' and subsequent releases, signing with Darkroom and Interscope Records.