Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of a teenage girl’s remains inside the trunk of an abandoned Tesla linked to him. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the arrest on Thursday. The 21 year old artist is currently being held without bail.
What was found and where
The vehicle, a black Tesla, was located at a towing lot in Hollywood. Workers at the facility alerted authorities after noticing a foul odor coming from the car. When police investigated, they found the decomposed remains of a head and torso inside a black cadaver bag in the trunk, along with dismembered body parts in a separate bag.
The remains were later identified as those of 14 year old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. According to court filings, Celeste had last been seen in 2024 in Lake Elsinore, a city southeast of Los Angeles. Her body was discovered on September 8. At the time she was found, she was dressed in black leggings, a tube top, and jewelry. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office has not publicly confirmed a cause or manner of death, citing a security hold requested by law enforcement.
Who was Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Celeste was 14 years old when she was reported missing in 2024. Her disappearance prompted concern from her family and triggered search efforts from local authorities. The full circumstances of how she came to be in the vehicle have not been disclosed by investigators, and her family has been waiting for answers since she first went missing.
What D4vd’s legal team is saying
D4vd’s defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter moved quickly to make their position known. The legal team stated publicly that no grand jury indictment has been returned and that no criminal complaint has been filed as of this writing. They emphasized that they intend to mount a vigorous defense on his behalf and expressed full confidence that the evidence will ultimately clear their client of any involvement in Celeste’s death.
The case is expected to be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where the major crimes division will review all details before any formal charges are filed.
How the arrest affected D4vd’s career
At the time of the discovery, D4vd was actively touring. A spokesperson confirmed he was aware of the situation and said he was cooperating with authorities. Shortly after, the singer canceled the remaining dates of his U.S. Withered World Tour. No further public statement has been made by the artist himself.
Where the investigation stands
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Law enforcement has not released a detailed timeline of events connecting D4vd to the vehicle or to Celeste, and the medical examiner’s findings have been withheld pending the police department’s security hold. The coming days are expected to bring more clarity as the district attorney’s office weighs the evidence presented to them.
The case has drawn widespread attention both within the music industry and beyond, given D4vd‘s profile as a rising artist who gained mainstream recognition at a young age. For Celeste’s family, the focus remains on understanding what happened to her and finding a path toward justice.
