Singer D4vd Charged With Murder as Teen's Body Found in Tesla
Singer D4vd Charged With Murder as Teen's Body Found in Tesla
D4vd, real name David Burke, faces first-degree murder and other charges after a 14-year-old’s dismembered body was found in the trunk of his Tesla; he pleads not guilty.
Los Angeles — Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He appeared in a Los Angeles County courthouse and pleaded not guilty to counts including first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and mutilating a body. Prosecutors say the victim’s dismembered remains were found in the trunk of the musician’s apparently abandoned Tesla seven months after she vanished. Burke is held without bail as the case moves forward. The district attorney also outlined special circumstances — lying in wait, committing a crime for financial gain, and murdering a witness in an investigation — that could carry the death penalty if convicted.
Hochman said the allegations include repeated sexual relations with the victim, indicating the severity of the case. The arraignment took place in a Los Angeles court as investigators compile additional evidence for the prosecution.
D4vd rose to fame on TikTok with a blend of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop, scoring a hit with Romantic Homicide that reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. The case has drawn national attention and raised questions about accountability in the entertainment industry. Prosecutors have not yet set a trial date, and Burke remains in custody as the legal process unfolds.
