Lead
Los Angeles police arrested 21-year-old alt-pop singer D4vd, legally David Burke, on suspicion of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after her decomposed body was found in a towed Tesla on Sept. 8. Authorities say homicide detectives took Burke into custody in connection with the discovery; prosecutors will review the investigative file. Burke’s defense team publicly denied he caused Hernandez’s death and said they will vigorously defend him. No grand jury indictment or criminal complaint has been filed, and prosecutors have not yet charged Burke.
Key Takeaways
- D4vd is David Burke, a 21-year-old Houston-born alt-pop artist arrested by LAPD homicide detectives on suspicion of murder in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
- The victim’s dismembered, decomposed body was found in a 2023 Tesla Model Y that had been towed from the Hollywood Hills on Sept. 8; investigators observed a decomposed head and torso in a cadaver bag.
- Authorities list Hernandez as 14 years old in court documents; she was reported missing in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, where she had been a seventh grader.
- A Los Angeles County grand jury had been investigating the death; the probe’s existence and Burke’s status as a target were made public after a Feb. 25 Texas court filing by Burke’s family.
- Prosecutors said the LA County District Attorney’s Major Crimes Division will review the case to decide whether to file charges; no indictment has been returned.
- Defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter issued a statement asserting evidence will show Burke did not murder Hernandez.
- Police reported severed limbs and a second black bag with additional dismembered parts; medical examiner officials have not publicly released a cause of death.
Background
The investigation began when family members reported Celeste Rivas Hernandez missing in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Court filings and police records indicate she was a 13-year-old seventh grader when reported missing; authorities cite her age as 14 in documents related to the death. The victim’s remains were discovered Sept. 8 inside a Tesla that had been towed from an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood after residents or city crews identified the vehicle as apparently abandoned.
That vehicle, a 2023 Tesla Model Y, was registered at a Texas address associated with Burke’s subpoenaed family members, according to prosecutors’ court filings. A Los Angeles County grand jury took up the matter in a sealed probe; grand jury secrecy is standard in such investigations, which can only be publicly revealed through filings or court motions. The probe’s existence and the target designation became public after Burke’s parents and brother filed an objection in Texas to subpoenas seeking their testimony.
Main Event
Police said homicide detectives arrested Burke on suspicion of murder and that investigators plan to present evidence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s office confirmed it was aware of the arrest and said its Major Crimes Division would evaluate the investigative file to determine whether charges are warranted. Officials emphasized that, as of the arrest, no criminal complaint or indictment had been filed against Burke.
At the scene and in subsequent searches, detectives reported finding a cadaver bag in the towed Tesla with a strong odor of decay and visible insect activity; after partially unzipping it they observed a decomposed head and torso. Investigators later removed the bag and said arms and legs had been severed from the body. A second black bag beneath the first reportedly contained additional dismembered parts. The medical examiner removed the remains for forensic examination, and officials have not yet publicly announced a cause of death.
Following the discovery, Burke — who had been touring in support of his first full-length album Withered — cancelled the final North American dates and a planned European leg. Records show his earlier releases included the EPs Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals, and his 2022 song “Romantic Homicide” helped him gain a sizable Generation Z following on TikTok and streaming platforms. Authorities did not identify Burke publicly as a suspect until the arrest; he is being held without bail pending the DA review.
Analysis & Implications
Legally, the immediate significance is procedural: an arrest based on suspicion moves the case to the prosecutors, who must decide whether probable cause supports formal charges. The DA’s Major Crimes Division will examine forensic evidence from the vehicle and autopsy findings from the medical examiner to evaluate viability of a murder prosecution. Absent a grand jury indictment or an immediate criminal complaint, Burke retains the presumption of innocence under U.S. law.
Forensic timing and chain-of-custody will be central. Investigators must establish where and when the victim died, how the remains came to be in the vehicle, and whether forensic links tie Burke to those acts. Dismemberment and prolonged decomposition complicate time-of-death estimates and can require extensive forensic anthropology and entomology work, which can delay or limit conclusive findings.
The case also carries reputational and industry ramifications. Burke’s sudden removal from touring and the public nature of the investigation will affect contracts, label relations and public perception irrespective of the criminal outcome. From a public policy perspective, the case may prompt scrutiny of how missing-person reports and vehicle complaints intersect with local towing and code-enforcement practices in wealthy neighborhoods.
Comparison & Data
| Event | Date (as reported) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Victim reported missing | 2024 | Court filings / Police report |
| Remains discovered in towed Tesla | Sept. 8 | Police statement / Court documents |
| Family objected to subpoenas (public reveal) | Feb. 25 | Texas court filing reported in media |
| Arrest announced by LAPD | Announced on a Thursday (per reporting) | Police statement / News report |
The table above condenses the timeline available in public reports and court filings. Forensic reports, the grand jury record and any future charging documents will provide additional dated milestones necessary to build a fuller chronology.
Reactions & Quotes
Let us be clear — the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter
The defense issued that statement as its first public comment after the arrest, stressing they will “vigorously defend” Burke and reiterating that no indictment or criminal complaint has been returned. That emphasis underscores the defense strategy of distinguishing suspicion from proven culpability.
We are aware of the arrest and our Major Crimes Division will review the investigative file to determine whether the evidence justifies filing charges.
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office (official statement)
The DA’s response signals the procedural step ahead: internal review by prosecutors, who will weigh forensic findings, witness statements and grand jury material before deciding on charging.
Detectives observed a cadaver bag covered with insects and a strong odor of decay and partially unzipped the bag to view a decomposed head and torso.
Court documents
Court documents describing the condition of remains are expected to be central to forensic timelines and to any prosecutorial narrative about cause and manner of death.
Unconfirmed
- No public cause of death has been released by the medical examiner; any stated cause remains unconfirmed until the official report is published.
- It is unconfirmed whether Burke had any prior connection or relationship with Celeste Rivas Hernandez; public records and reporting have not established a link beyond investigative subpoenas and vehicle registration.
- Details about where and when the killing occurred, and who placed the remains in the vehicle, have not been publicly confirmed by investigators.
Bottom Line
The arrest of David Burke moves a months-long, grand-jury-level investigation into the public prosecutorial phase, but it does not equate to a criminal conviction. Prosecutors must now review forensic findings, grand jury evidence and investigative materials to determine whether formal charges should be filed. Until charges are filed and tested in court, Burke remains a suspect entitled to the presumption of innocence under the law.
The case will likely unfold over many weeks or months as forensic analyses and legal reviews proceed; close attention should be paid to the DA’s charging decision and the medical examiner’s final report, which will shape the legal pathway forward and public understanding of what occurred.
Sources
- Associated Press — News report summarizing police statements and court filings
- Los Angeles Police Department — Official police statements and press page
- Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office — Official/ prosecutorial statements and Major Crimes Division information
- Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner — Official forensic and autopsy authority