Professional singer “D4vd” was arrested yesterday on suspicion of the murder of a missing teen, when dismembered pieces of her body were found in the trunk of his car last year.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest of David Burke, 21, on the evening of April 16, 2026, for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. “The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office on Monday for filing consideration,” the department posted to social media.
Missing Teen
Hernandez was last seen at 13 years old in April 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California. The victim was reported to have been dead for some time before her body was discovered in the Tesla towed from Hollywood Hills on September 8, 2025. She was in the 7th grade and had her whole life ahead of her when her family reported her missing in 2024. Authorities believe she was killed at 14 years old.
Burke was previously named a target of a grand jury investigation after authorities discovered the missing teen’s dismembered body in the trunk of a Tesla registered in the singer’s name. On what would have been the victim’s 15th birthday was now forever a tarnished day in her family’s hearts.
Body Found in David Burke’s Trunk
The 2023 Tesla Model Y was registered to a Burke family member’s address in Texas and was towed after it was seemingly abandoned. Police searched the contents of the Tesla in a tow yard, which is when they found the victim’s dismembered body.
Hernandez’s body was described as “severely decomposed.” Court documents said police found a cadaver bag which was “covered with insects and a strong odor of decay,” and “detectives partially unzipped the bag and observed a decomposed head and torso.” Below the bag, officers found a second which contained the victim’s arms and legs.
Neither the coroner’s office nor authorities have revealed the teen’s cause of death. The initial investigation has been kept under wraps, probably due to the suspect’s public standing and to not tamper with the credibility of the case.
Criminal Charges
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told CourtTV that Burke has yet to be indicted on charges since his arrest. His case will be presented to prosecutors, who will then determine if there is a sufficient amount of evidence to file criminal charges against him.
Burke’s attorneys, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, made a statement following his arrest, insisting that their client is innocent. Burke was touring at the time the teenager’s body was found in the trunk in September 2025. According to police, he was initially cooperative with the investigation.
“Let us be clear – the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez, and he was not the cause of her death. There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence,” his attorneys stated.
Rising Singer D4vd
D4vd, pronounced “David,” became widely popular amongst Gen Z for his particular music style of multiple genres. His tunes ranged from indie rock and R&B to lo-fi pop. He first went viral in 2022 on TikTok with his hit song, “Romantic Homicide,” that reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
When the victim’s body was discovered, Burke had been on tour promoting his first full-length album, “Withered.” The remaining two North American shows, performance at LA’s Grammy Museum, and his European tour were cancelled due to the horrific events that took place while he was gone.
