Coachella has become an unexpected focal point in the murder investigation involving singer D4vd, after a controversial aerial message appeared in the sky and drew widespread backlash.
The 21-year-old musician, born David Burke, was arrested by LAPD officers on Thursday in connection with the death of teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Celeste had been reported missing in 2024. She was later identified as the teen whose decomposed remains were found last September inside a Tesla registered to Burke.
D4vd, known for tracks including ‘Romantic Homicide’ and ‘Here With Me’, had largely disappeared from public view in the months leading up to his arrest. Police say he is currently being held without bail, and the case is set to be reviewed by prosecutors.
In the wake of the arrest, attention shifted to a message spotted in the airspace near the Coachella area: “Celeste is a liar”.
The wording was reportedly visible over the festival area on Friday, leaving many who saw it shocked and confused. Clips of the display later circulated online, fuelling anger and speculation.
So far, it remains unclear who paid for or coordinated the skywriting. Authorities also have not said publicly that it is connected in any way to the ongoing investigation.
Even without confirmation of its origin, the timing meant it quickly spread across social media, with many questioning why Celeste’s name had been used so publicly in such a provocative statement.
One post shared online read: “Just seen this right by Coachella ‘Celeste is a liar’ what this mean?”
As shared by The New York Post, The Desert Sun later added an editor’s note to its coverage of the message, stating: “Editor’s note: While the source of this message has still not been confirmed, The Desert Sun has learned it could be related to the marketing of the new Netflix movie ‘Roommates.’”
LAPD confirmed Burke’s arrest in a statement after Robbery-Homicide Division officers detained him at a Hollywood Hills property where he had been staying.
The department said: “Detectives from Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division have arrested David Burke, a 21-year-old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas. Burke is being held without bail. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s office on Monday for filing consideration.”
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said its Major Crimes Division will assess the evidence to determine whether charges will be filed.
Court documents have also described the discovery made after the Tesla was towed from the Hollywood Hills, stating:
Vile 'Celeste is a liar' sky message appears above Coachella after D4vd's arrest for murder https://t.co/fyqCWiCTyg pic.twitter.com/b69dOeBzzO
— New York Post (@nypost) April 18, 2026
“Upon removing the cadaver bag from the front storage compartment, it was discovered the arms and legs had been severed from the body.
“A second black bag was discovered underneath the cadaver bag. Upon opening the second bag, the dismembered body parts were discovered.”
Following the arrest, Burke’s attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter released a statement, saying: “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.”
For now, the skywriting stunt has not been explained, and police have not publicly indicated whether it has any relevance to the case.