On Monday, April 21, 2025, Los Angeles County prosecutors filed first-degree murder charges against 21-year-old singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered remains were discovered in the trunk of his Tesla.
The charges include special circumstances of lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and murder of a witness to an investigation, according to District Attorney Nathan Hochman. Prosecutors allege Burke engaged in a sexual relationship with the teenager and killed her to prevent her from exposing the abuse, which he claimed threatened his burgeoning music career.
Burke also faces charges of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor under 14 and mutilation of a human body. He pleaded not guilty at his initial court appearance the same day, and a judge denied bail, ordering him held without release pending trial. The next hearing is scheduled for April 23.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released the official cause of death: multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s), ruled a homicide. The determination was made on December 10, 2025, but remained sealed until a court order blocking its release was lifted.
Investigators say Hernandez was reported missing in April 2024 after disappearing from her home in Lake Elsinore, approximately 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles. According to authorities, Burke invited her to his Hollywood Hills residence on April 23, 2025, and she was never heard from again.
Her body was found on September 8, 2025 — one day before her 15th birthday — in the trunk of Burke’s Tesla, which had been towed to an impound lot after sitting for weeks following what appeared to be abandonment. The remains were dismembered and placed in bags, as noted in court filings tied to a grand jury investigation.
For more on this story, see Singer D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed detectives learned of the sexual relationship between Burke and Hernandez, describing her as a runaway from Riverside County. A criminal complaint alleges the abuse occurred between September 7, 2023, and September 7, 2024.
In their first public statement, Hernandez’s parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, described their daughter as “a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance,” emphasizing weekly movie nights and her expressions of love. They said they miss her deeply and thanked law enforcement, prosecutors, and the community of Lake Elsinore for their support.
Burke’s defense team maintains his innocence, stating in a post-arrest declaration that “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.” They pledged a vigorous defense.
If convicted, Burke faces the maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment without parole. The district attorney’s office has not yet decided whether to pursue capital punishment.
What specific charges does Burke face beyond murder?
In addition to first-degree murder with special circumstances, Burke is charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with a child under 14 and mutilation of a human body, all filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
When and where was Hernandez’s body discovered?
Her remains were found on September 8, 2025, in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, which had been impounded after sitting in the Hollywood Hills for several weeks following a report of a foul odor from the vehicle.
