Singer D4vd Arrested in Death of Missing Teenager Found in Tesla Trunk

A major development in a months-long investigation into the death of a Lake Elsinore teenager has brought an arrest. On Thursday, Los Angeles police arrested 21-year-old David Anthony Burke, known professionally as the singer D4vd, on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The arrest came seven months after authorities discovered Rivas Hernandez’s decomposed remains in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, discovered at a Hollywood tow yard on September 8, 2025.

Burke, a platinum-selling recording artist best known for his hit single “Romantic Homicide,” was arrested at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at a residence in the Hollywood Hills after detectives obtained a probable-cause warrant. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, he is being held without bail pending the review of prosecutors at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether to file formal charges.

“The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office on Monday,” an LAPD statement said. “The Major Crimes Division will review to determine whether there is enough evidence to file charges.” The announcement came just hours after Burke was booked, making it one of the most significant arrests in a high-profile case that has captured attention across the music industry and beyond.

The Discovery That Changed Everything

The investigation began when workers at Hollywood Tow reported a foul odor emanating from a Tesla Model Y that had been impounded from the Hollywood Hills on September 8, 2025—the day after Rivas Hernandez would have turned 15. Officers responding to the report found the sedan’s frunk, or front trunk, contained a black cadaver bag covered with insects and showing advanced signs of decomposition, according to court documents filed during a grand jury investigation.

Inside the bag, investigators found a decomposed head and torso. A second cadaver bag discovered in the vehicle contained additional dismembered remains. The 2023 Tesla was registered in Burke’s name at a Texas address associated with his family members. It had been abandoned in the upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood for several weeks before being towed.

Rivas Hernandez was identified through forensic analysis. She had been reported missing from her Lake Elsinore home in Riverside County in 2024, when she was 13 years old. According to investigators, she was last seen alive on April 5, 2024, in the western Riverside County community. Court documents note that authorities believe her death likely occurred in the spring of 2024.

A Complex Timeline and Reported Connection

Digital Presence and Online Contact

Evidence presented to a Los Angeles County grand jury revealed a concerning digital footprint linking the two. According to court filings and witness statements, Rivas Hernandez was a member of Burke’s official Discord server as early as 2022, where she used the username “Celeste.” Other users on the server referred to her as Burke’s girlfriend at that time. The implications of this early online connection have drawn scrutiny from investigators.

Court documents indicate that Rivas had been reported missing three times in the final year of her life, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. She last ran away in April 2024 and last had contact with her family in May 2024. However, surveillance footage and digital evidence examined by authorities revealed that Rivas was alive in September 2024 and again in January 2025—months after her disappearance.

Physical Evidence and Matching Details

Forensic and photographic evidence uncovered during the investigation has raised additional questions. Photographs allegedly showing Rivas and Burke together surfaced after the body was identified. Most notably, investigators found that both individuals had matching tattoos. According to medical examiner findings, Rivas had a tattoo on her right index finger that read “Shhh…”—a design that appeared in Getty Images photographs of Burke as well.

Rivas’s brother told NBC Los Angeles that family members were aware their sister knew Burke. He reported that Rivas went missing after Burke allegedly picked her up in his Tesla. According to sources, Rivas had been residing in a rental property with Burke and met him through the internet.

The Defense Response and Legal Status

Within hours of Burke’s arrest, his defense team issued a statement asserting his innocence. Attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter stated: “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.”

The defense emphasized that no grand jury indictment has been returned and no criminal complaint has been filed. “David has only been detained under suspicion,” the statement continued, and they pledged to “vigorously defend David’s innocence.”

According to legal sources, the case is now in the hands of prosecutors at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who will have until Monday to formally present the evidence and determine whether to file charges. Until then, Burke remains in custody without bail.

Impact on the Music Industry

Burke’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the music industry. His debut studio album, “Withered,” was released in April 2025 by Interscope Records and launched at number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album includes the single “Crashing,” featuring artist Kali Uchis. Following Rivas’s identification as the deceased, Uchis issued a clarification on Instagram, stating she was not “friends” with Burke and actively worked to have their collaboration removed from streaming platforms.

Days after Rivas’s remains were discovered in September 2025, Burke’s remaining tour dates were canceled. The “Withered 2025 World Tour” had been in Minneapolis at the time of the discovery, with Kansas City scheduled as the next stop. The cancellation marked a turning point in the public response to the case.

The Investigation’s Path Forward

The investigation into Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death has been marked by both breakthroughs and frustration. In November 2025, the LAPD obtained a court order to seal the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s case file, preventing the release of any details, including the cause and manner of death. The order was granted by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Richman, who cited potential risks to the investigation or witnesses.

The decision drew public criticism from the Medical Examiner’s office itself. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo stated that security holds are rare and not proven to improve investigative outcomes. The office noted that LAPD had previously requested a hold on September 15, 2025, which was denied due to insufficient justification.

A grand jury was convened in November 2025 to hear evidence regarding possible charges in the case. Grand jury proceedings continued through early 2026, with prosecutors leading the charge. According to multiple sources familiar with the investigation, prosecutors believe Burke was involved in Rivas Hernandez’s death and have pushed for murder charges. The grand jury was tasked with determining whether there was sufficient evidence to issue an indictment.

A Community in Mourning

Following the identification of Rivas’s remains, a vigil was held in her hometown of Lake Elsinore. Community members left photographs, intimate notes, and flowers at a memorial honoring her memory. Her body was eventually released to her family for memorial services.

Now, as the case proceeds through the legal system, the Rivas Hernandez family faces the dual burden of grief and the slow process of justice. Legal sources have indicated that the family is considering filing a civil lawsuit against the LAPD to force the release of evidence and records related to the investigation, citing concerns about delays and lack of transparency from law enforcement.

The case remains ongoing, with formal charges potentially coming as early as Monday following the District Attorney’s Office review. Burke’s defense team has signaled their commitment to challenging the evidence, while prosecutors appear confident in their case. For now, the Los Angeles legal system holds the answers that the Rivas Hernandez family and the broader community have been seeking since Celeste’s disappearance in 2024.