Prosecutors say the motive in the murder case involving singer D4vd was to silence a teenager who they allege threatened to expose an illegal sexual relationship and ruin his career.
David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, was arrested in April 2026 and charged in Los Angeles with murder, sexual abuse of a child and mutilating a corpse in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Investigators first found a decomposing body in the trunk of a vehicle registered to the singer after the car was towed from a Hollywood street in September 2025.
The remains were later identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been reported missing after last being seen in April 2024, when she was 13.
According to prosecutors, Burke met Celeste online when she was still a child and the two later developed a relationship that turned sexual. They allege the relationship continued into her 14th year and that Burke killed her after she threatened to reveal what was happening.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said prosecutors believe the teen told Burke she could expose the relationship, end his career and destroy his life.
Burke has consistently denied responsibility. His lawyers, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, told LADbible Group:
“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.
“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.”
Prosecutors have also alleged that Burke used a chainsaw to dismember the body and took steps to conceal the killing, including sending messages from Celeste’s phone after her death. In a later court filing, prosecutors said he bought items such as chainsaws, a shovel, a cadaver bag, heavy-duty laundry bags and a blue inflatable pool under a fake name in preparation for disposing of her remains.
The special-circumstance allegations in the case include lying in wait and murder for financial gain, with prosecutors arguing the killing was tied to Burke’s efforts to protect his music career.
A preliminary hearing that had been set for June 29 has now been moved to July 21, when a judge is expected to decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
Celeste was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, when prosecutors say Burke arranged for an Uber to bring her from her home to his Hollywood residence.
Court documents allege that she was killed shortly afterward.
Prosecutors further claim Burke used a chainsaw to dismember her body and then sent multiple text messages to her phone after her death in an effort to conceal what had happened.
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