Summary (tl;dr)

Alt-pop singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested on April 17, 2026, in Los Angeles on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in his Tesla in September 2025.

Essential Background

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was 13 years old at the time, was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California, in April 2024. Seven months prior to D4vd's arrest, in September 2025, her badly decomposed and dismembered remains were discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the singer. The vehicle had been found abandoned in the Hollywood Hills before being towed to a Los Angeles tow yard. Ahead of Burke's arrest, a Los Angeles County grand jury investigation into Celeste's death had identified D4vd as a target of the probe, a fact that emerged when his family members challenged subpoenas demanding their testimony in a Texas court in February 2026.

The Full Story

On Thursday, April 17, 2026, David Anthony Burke, 21, known professionally as D4vd, was arrested by Los Angeles police homicide detectives in Hollywood on suspicion of murder in the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Burke is currently being held without bail. The Los Angeles Police Department announced that the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Monday for consideration of formal charges. D4vd's defense attorneys have publicly stated their client's innocence, emphasizing that no indictment or criminal complaint has been filed against him.

Why It Matters

The arrest of D4vd, a musician popular for his alt-pop sound, has sparked considerable public and media interest due to the high-profile nature of the individual involved and the disturbing circumstances surrounding the death of a minor. The case has been closely watched since Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body was discovered in a vehicle linked to the singer, leading to questions about any potential relationship between them, including prior reports of matching tattoos and an unreleased song titled "Celeste." The upcoming review by the District Attorney's Office will be a critical step in determining the next legal proceedings, keeping the spotlight on this unfolding tragedy.

Geographic Location

• Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (arrest of David Anthony Burke)
• Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (discovery location of D4vd's abandoned Tesla with Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body)
• Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (tow yard where Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body was identified; LAPD investigation and District Attorney's office review location)
• Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California, United States (Celeste Rivas Hernandez reported missing)
• Texas, United States (D4vd's family filed objection to grand jury subpoenas)