DISCLAIMER: This article contains references to sexual abuse.Alt-pop singer D4vd, who goes by the name David Burke, has been charged in Los Angeles County with murder, sexual abuse of a child and illegal cutting of human remains in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors say the case dates back to 2023 and is based on allegations that Burke abused the teenager, killed her in April 2025 and then hid her body in a Tesla registered to his name. His lawyer entered a plea of not guilty during his appearance on Monday.
D4vd murder charge the timeline starts in 2023
According to The Associated Press, prosecutors say Burke began “persistently sexually abusing” Rivas Hernandez on Sept. 7, 2023, shortly after her 13th birthday. The girl, described by authorities as a runaway, lived with Burke in Los Angeles, according to court records cited by the AP. She was reported missing in Lake Elsinore by her family on April 5, 2024, after being reported missing several times before.Prosecutors say Rivas Hernandez was last seen alive on April 23, 2025. Burke is alleged to have killed her “on or around that date” because it was a threat to her career. In a statement, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said: “When he exposed his criminal behavior and threatened to destroy his music career, Burke allegedly killed him.”
The Celeste Rivas Hernandez case and D4vd career timeline
Allegations spread as Burke’s music career grew. AP noted that Burke debuted in 2022 with ‘Romantic Homicide’, which went viral on TikTok and later reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart. He went on to sign with Darkroom and Interscope Records. On April 11, 2025, he performed at Coachella, and told the AP: “I’m my fans and my fans are me. And we work together together and it’s a beautiful poetic thing that we have.“Two weeks later, Burke released his first album, ‘Withered’. Prosecutors later alleged that on or about May 5, 2025, Rivas Hernandez’s arms and legs were severed from his body. His remains were found on Sept. 8, 2025, in body bags inside the trunk of an apparently abandoned Tesla, according to court documents cited by the AP.Police arrested Burke on April 16, 2026. The prosecutor formally charged him on April 20, 2026. The case is still in court.DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, assault or abuse, seek immediate help. Contact a mental health specialist, NGO or someone you trust. Several helplines are available to provide assistance.
