Alt-pop singer D4vd has been taken into custody on suspicion of killing a teenager after a decomposed body was found last year inside a Tesla registered to him that was towed from the Hollywood Hills.
In a short statement, Los Angeles police said the 21-year-old artist, born in Houston and legally named David Burke, was arrested in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities said he is being held without bail on suspicion of murder.
Police added that detectives plan to submit the case to prosecutors at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Monday.
The district attorney’s office said it is aware of the arrest and that its Major Crimes Division will evaluate the evidence to decide whether charges should be filed.
Scrutiny of D4vd’s possible connection to the case intensified in September 2025, when officers discovered a decomposing body in a vehicle registered in his name.
Court records described the scene in detail: “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.”
Investigators later determined the remains were those of Celeste, who had been reported missing since 2024.
After the arrest, D4vd’s attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter released a statement: “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.”
D4vd is known for tracks including ‘Romantic Homicide’ and ‘Here With Me’. When the allegations first began circulating, he was in the middle of a world tour, which he later canceled.
As discussion of the case spread online, an older song attributed to him reappeared, featuring lyrics that referenced a person named Celeste.
The song, which has since been removed from SoundCloud, included the lines: “Oh, Celeste / The girl with my name tattooed on her chest / Smell her on my clothes like cigarettes / I hear her voice each time I take a breath / I’m obsessed.”
It continues: “Oh, Celeste / Afraid you’ll only love me when undressed / But you look so damn gorgeous in that dress / Missing you so much makes me depressed / But I digress, because.”
Reports previously said that around the time Celeste disappeared, she told her mother she was dating someone named David.
It has also been noted that both Celeste and the singer had similar ‘Shhh…’ tattoos on their fingers.
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