TRIGGER WARNING: This article includes references to sexual abuse.Alt-pop singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, has been charged in Los Angeles County with murder, sexual abuse of a child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors say the case stretches back to 2023 and centers on allegations that Burke abused the teen, killed her in April 2025, and later hid her remains in a Tesla registered in his name. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment on Monday.
D4vd murder charge timeline begins in 2023
According to The Associated Press, prosecutors allege Burke began the “continuous sexual abuse” of Rivas Hernandez on September 7, 2023, shortly after she turned 13. Court records cited by AP say the girl, described by authorities as a runaway, lived with Burke in Los Angeles. Her family reported her missing from Lake Elsinore on April 5, 2024, after reporting her missing several times before.Prosecutors say Rivas Hernandez was last known to be alive on April 23, 2025. They allege Burke killed her “on or about” that date because she posed a threat to his career. In a statement, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said, “When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her.”
Celeste Rivas Hernandez case and D4vd career timeline
The allegations unfolded as Burke’s music career grew. AP noted that Burke first broke out in 2022 with ‘Romantic Homicide,’ which went viral on TikTok and later reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart. He went on to sign with Darkroom and Interscope Records. On April 11, 2025, he performed at Coachella, where he told AP, “I am my fans and my fans are me. And we work in tandem with each other and it’s such a beautiful poetic kind of thing that we have.”Two weeks later, Burke released his debut album, ‘Withered.’ Prosecutors later alleged that on or around May 5, 2025, Rivas Hernandez’s arms and legs were severed from her body. Her remains were found on Sept. 8, 2025, in body bags inside the trunk of an apparently abandoned Tesla, according to court documents cited by AP.Police arrested Burke on April 16, 2026. Prosecutors formally charged him on April 20, 2026. The case remains pending in court.DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, assault, or abuse, please seek immediate help. Reach out to a mental health specialist, NGO, or trusted individual. Several helplines are available to offer assistance.
