Lead
Los Angeles police announced on Thursday that 21-year-old singer D4vd, legal name David Anthony Burke, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities say remains discovered in a Tesla registered to the singer’s address in Texas on 8 September 2025 prompted a grand jury probe that began in December. Burke is being held without bail and the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Officials have not yet disclosed an official cause of death.
Key takeaways
- Arrest: Police arrested David Anthony Burke (stage name D4vd) on Thursday; he is 21 years old and held without bail pending presentation to the DA.
- Victim: The deceased is 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, last reported missing by family in April 2024 and identified after remains were found on 8 September 2025.
- Discovery: Investigators located a decomposed head and torso in a cadaver bag inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke’s Texas address; the medical examiner described the remains as “severely decomposed.”
- Legal process: A Los Angeles grand jury began hearing evidence in December 2025 and had identified Burke as a target of the investigation prior to the arrest.
- Evidence details: Court filings note clothing and jewelry found with the remains and a tattoo reading “Shhh…” on the victim’s finger, a marking similar to one on the singer’s own index finger.
- Professional fallout: After the discovery in September, Burke canceled a world tour and lost commercial partnerships with brands including Hollister and Crocs.
Background
The case centers on Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old first-generation daughter of Salvadoran immigrants who lived in Lake Elsinore, about 75 miles (120 km) from where her remains were later found. Her family reported her missing in April 2024; local accounts indicate she had previously run away from home. The discovery of her remains in a Hollywood tow yard on 8 September 2025, after a report of a foul odor, transformed a missing-person matter into a death investigation.
Authorities treated the case as a death investigation for months while the Los Angeles County medical examiner deferred a cause of death pending further inquiry, noting the body was “severely decomposed” and may have been there for several weeks before discovery. Public interest intensified because of apparent links between the vehicle and high-profile musician D4vd, and because few concrete details were released while a grand jury reviewed evidence.
Main event
On 8 September 2025, investigators responding to reports of a strong odor found a Tesla in a Hollywood tow yard; inside the vehicle’s front trunk they discovered a decomposed head and torso contained in a cadaver bag. Court documents connect that Tesla to an address associated with David Anthony Burke in Texas. Following that discovery, Los Angeles police executed a search at a Hollywood Hills residence where Burke had been living, according to public filings.
Prosecutors convened a grand jury in December 2025 to review evidence; public court filings later indicated that Burke had been formally identified as a target of that grand jury investigation. In recent court actions, Burke’s family was summoned from Texas to testify before the grand jury, and filings released during legal challenges included material not previously public.
Police said on Thursday that they had arrested Burke “for the murder of Celeste Rivas.” The singer has largely remained out of public view since September, and his representatives previously told media he was cooperating with investigators. Los Angeles police said the arrest will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for charging decisions on Monday.
Analysis & implications
The arrest of a public figure in an active homicide probe raises questions about investigative timing, evidentiary thresholds and grand-jury secrecy. Grand juries typically receive extensive testimonial and documentary evidence behind closed doors; the identification of Burke as a target indicates prosecutors believed probable cause existed to consider charges. Presentation to the DA is the next step for formal charging decisions.
For the family of the victim and the broader community, prosecutors’ move to arrest a suspect signals progress after more than a year of limited public information. Yet the medical examiner’s deferral of a cause of death means key forensic answers remain pending, and those results could materially affect prosecutorial strategy and the defense response if charges are filed.
There are reputational and commercial ripple effects irrespective of eventual criminal outcomes. Burke’s canceled tour and dropped partnerships illustrate how quickly careers can be disrupted by serious allegations, while online speculation around the case has complicated public discourse and may pose challenges for ensuring a fair process.
Comparison & data
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last reported missing | April 2024 |
| Remains discovered | 8 September 2025 |
| Grand jury began | December 2025 |
| Arrest announced | Thursday (police statement) |
The timeline shows a gap of roughly 17 months from the last reported disappearance to the discovery of remains, and approximately three months from grand-jury review to the arrest announcement. That pacing reflects the deliberative nature of homicide investigations that rely on forensic work, witness interviews and legal review before charges are pursued.
Reactions & quotes
“We have arrested David Anthony Burke for the murder of Celeste Rivas,”
Los Angeles Police Department (official statement)
“He is cooperating with authorities,”
Representatives for D4vd
Officials and family members have been cautious in public remarks, emphasizing that investigative steps and legal review are ongoing. Community attention and online commentary have been significant, but law enforcement has stressed it will rely on forensic evidence and grand-jury testimony rather than speculation.
Unconfirmed
- The precise cause and manner of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death remain officially undetermined pending the medical examiner’s ruling.
- Details establishing how, when and where the victim and the vehicle became linked have not been fully disclosed publicly.
- Any motive for the alleged killing has not been announced and remains unestablished in public records.
Bottom line
The arrest of D4vd marks a major procedural turning point in a case that had been marked by limited public disclosure and intense online speculation. While arresting a suspect advances accountability, it does not equate to a conviction; forensic findings and prosecutorial charging decisions will determine the legal path forward.
Observers should expect more public records and court filings in the coming days as the District Attorney’s office reviews the matter and the medical examiner issues findings. For now, key factual questions remain open and must be answered through the established judicial and forensic processes rather than conjecture.
Sources
- BBC News — news report summarizing law enforcement statements and court filings