D4vd arrested on suspicion after a teen girl’s body was found in his Tesla

D4vd Latest updates on charges, investigation, and official statements.

Los Angeles police have arrested popular US singer D4vd on suspicion of murder following an extensive grand jury investigation into the death of a teenage girl who disappeared last year. The 21-year-old musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is currently being held without bail after investigators discovered the remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez inside his Tesla vehicle back in September, according to official statements from the Los Angeles Police Department.

The case against D4vd, who rose to fame through online streaming platforms and has garnered millions of listeners worldwide, marks a shocking turn in what authorities describe as a complex and tragic investigation. Law enforcement officials confirmed that a grand jury had been quietly examining evidence related to the apparent murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez for several months before the decision was made to take the singer into custody. The teenager was originally reported missing last year, and her disappearance had remained unsolved until the grim discovery inside D4vd's Tesla prompted a renewed and intensified criminal inquiry.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, which held a brief press briefing on Thursday, D4vd  born David Anthony Burke is being detained without the option of bail as prosecutors prepare to formally review the case. The LAPD further stated that all investigative findings, along with physical evidence collected from the singer's vehicle and other undisclosed locations, will be presented to the District Attorney's office on Monday. At that point, prosecutors will decide whether to file formal murder charges and what specific counts the singer may face moving forward.

The remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose family has been notified and is reportedly cooperating with authorities, were found inside D4vd's Tesla in September, though the exact date of death and the circumstances leading up to it have not yet been publicly released by investigators. Police have also not disclosed whether the singer and the victim knew each other prior to her disappearance, nor have they commented on whether any other individuals are being sought in connection with the case. However, sources close to the investigation indicate that forensic evidence recovered from the vehicle played a key role in the grand jury's decision to recommend an arrest.

As the case heads to the District Attorney's office on Monday, legal experts note that holding a suspect without bail prior to formal charges is relatively uncommon and suggests that prosecutors may already possess what they consider to be strong probable cause. D4vd has not yet entered a formal plea, and it remains unclear whether he has retained legal representation or will be appointed a public defender. The Los Angeles Police Department has urged anyone with additional information about Celeste Rivas Hernandez's disappearance or her relationship with the singer to come forward.

This developing story has already begun to attract significant public attention, not only because of D4vd's rising fame but also due to the disturbing nature of the allegations. Fans and followers of the musician have taken to social media expressing shock and disbelief, while others await official confirmation of the charges expected to be announced following Monday's presentation to the District Attorney. The LAPD has stated that no further details will be released until after the District Attorney's office has completed its initial review of the evidence.

In an official statement provided to multiple US media outlets, the legal team representing David Anthony Burke known professionally as D4vd  has strongly denied any involvement by their client in the death of teenage girl Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The attorneys emphasized that once all evidence is presented, it will clearly show that Burke did not murder the 14-year-old and was not responsible for causing her death in any way.

"We want to be perfectly clear," the lawyers stated. "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."

The defense team further pointed out that no formal charges have been filed against the 21-year-old singer as of yet. They clarified that no grand jury has returned an indictment in the case, nor has any criminal complaint been submitted to the courts. According to the lawyers, Burke has only been detained under suspicion, which is a legal status that falls short of formal accusation or conviction.

"There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed," the attorneys added. "David has only been detained under suspicion."

This statement directly contradicts earlier claims from law enforcement, when the Los Angeles Police Department announced they had arrested Burke specifically "for the murder of Celeste Rivas."

The county medical examiner determined that the teen's body was "severely decomposed" when discovered and has deferred making an official ruling on her cause of death pending the ongoing investigation. Officials have stated that the 14-year-old may have been dead for several weeks before her remains were found inside D4vd's Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard.

To date, no cause of death has been announced in Celeste Rivas Hernandez's case. For months, authorities have only described the matter as an active death investigation without providing further details about how the teenager died.

In a separate development, a judge issued an order in November to seal the teen's death records. The decision was made to ensure that law enforcement officers could receive information from the medical examiner's office before any details were released to the public.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, lived approximately 75 miles from where her body was later discovered in D4vd's Tesla. Her family first reported her missing from their Lake Elsinore home in April 2024, though it was not her first time running away. According to the Los Angeles Times, neighbors knew her as a first-generation daughter of Salvadoran immigrant parents who frequently visited a nearby corner store for candy and soda.

The lack of official information surrounding her macabre death has fueled public intrigue and sparked a growing online following, with many speculating about what connection the teenager may have had to the singer.

A grand jury began hearing evidence in the case back in December. However, Burke's arrest on Thursday represents the first major development in the case in several months.

Additional case details emerged in court filings after the singer's family was summoned from Texas by a California court to testify before the grand jury.

When D4vd's father, Dawud Burke, challenged the court summons in Texas, he submitted filings containing California case details that had not yet been made public.

Those documents, obtained by the BuzzNation, confirmed that D4vd had been named as a "target" of a Los Angeles grand jury investigation and could face proceedings for one count of murder.

The singer has remained largely silent throughout the case, though his representatives previously stated he was cooperating with authorities. The BuzzNation, has reached out to his team following Thursday's arrest.

Among the few public details released so far: when her body was found, Celeste Rivas Hernandez was wearing a tube top, size small black leggings, and jewelry including a yellow metal stud earring and a yellow metal chain bracelet.

She also had a tattoo on her index finger that read "Shhh…" —a marking nearly identical to the one on D4vd's own finger.

Want To Know D4vd ?

D4vd, originally from Houston, Texas, is best known for moody indie-pop hits including Here With Me and Romantic Homicide. The 21-year-old singer first gained attention as a teenager by posting videos of himself playing the video game Fortnite.

After teaching himself music production, he released his debut EP, Petals To Thorns, in 2023. That same year, he appeared on Variety's Young Hollywood list and opened for SZA during her SOS tour. He released his debut album in April 2025, amassing 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify and nearly four million TikTok followers. He was also commissioned by Fortnite to create the game's first official anthem, titled Locked & Loaded.

Shortly after Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body was discovered inside his Tesla, the singer canceled his world tour and stepped away from the public eye. Police previously confirmed they had raided the Hollywood Hills mansion where he was living — located just blocks from where his Tesla had been towed. He was also dropped from marketing campaigns with US retailer Hollister and footwear giant Crocs.