Singer D4vd Charged with First Degree Murder of Teen Girl Found Dismembered in His Car

Months after a 14-year-old girl’s body was discovered inside a towed SUV, alt-pop singer D4vd has been arrested and officially charged in connection with the case, according to authorities.

The 21-year-old artist, whose legal name is David Burke, was taken into custody April 16 on suspicion of murder in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, police in Los Angeles said. Investigators did not identify Burke as a suspect in the case previously.

Hernandez was reported missing when she was 13-years-old by her family in 2024.

Her body was discovered on Sept. 8, 2025, the day after she would have turned 15, in an abandoned car that was registered to Burke.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters at a Monday press conference.

“I am a parent of three children, and a parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back, as we will show in a court of law,” Hochman said.

The body was discovered due to a strong smell. A bag was found in the car, covered with insects. Upon opening the bag, authorities discovered a decomposed head and torso.

 The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office investigators stated that the limbs had been severed, and in a second bag found dismembered body parts.

Burke was on tour when Hernandez’s body was discovered.

He was arrested Thursday and formally charged Monday in connection with her death.

Burke now faces charges of first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts involving a child under 14, and mutilation of a body.

Burke’s legal team has publicly maintained his innocence.

“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,” Burke’s legal team said upon Burke’s initial arrest. “There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”