U.S. artist D4vd has been taken into custody on suspicion of the homicide of a 14-year-old girl whose decomposed remains were discovered last year in an apparently deserted Tesla linked to him that was removed from the Hollywood Hills, authorities revealed on Thursday. The Los Angeles police noted that the 21-year-old alt-pop singer, originally from Houston and legally named David Anthony Burke, is being detained without bail. A case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for potential charges on Monday, as per the police statement.
In response to the allegations, defense lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter stated via email that the evidence will demonstrate David Burke’s innocence in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is set to review the case for sufficient evidence to press charges following the police investigators’ presentation on Monday.
The defense counsel emphasized that there has been no formal indictment or criminal complaint filed against David Burke, who remains a suspect under detention. This marks their initial public statement on the matter, with Burke held in jail without bail as the investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez progresses.
The deceased body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was discovered on September 8, 2025, a day after her 15th birthday, after she was reported missing in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, approximately 112 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles. Investigations revealed that the 14-year-old had been killed, with the discovery of her remains in a 2023 Tesla Model Y at a tow yard, leading to further gruesome details being unveiled by authorities.
The Los Angeles police obtained a court order in November 2025 to halt the release of the autopsy findings, maintaining secrecy around the cause of Rivas Hernandez’s death. D4vd’s connection to the case prompted the cancellation of his ongoing U.S. tour and subsequent European shows as the investigation gained widespread media attention.