Why D4vd Killed 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas, According to Prosecutors

Singer David Anthony Burke, who performs under the name D4vd, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after the body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in his car last year.

In addition to the murder charge, the prosecution claims to know the motive behind the killing of the 14-year-old girl, and it adds a "special enhancement" to the charges.

What We Know So Far

• A decomposing body was found inside a Tesla belonging to musician D4vd at an impound lot in Hollywood on Sept. 8, 2026.
• The car was brought to the impound lot after "someone reported it abandoned" in Hollywood Hills, and police were called after workers "reported a strong odor" coming from the Tesla.
• The Tesla was never reported as stolen.
• The body was discovered inside a bag in the Tesla's front trunk. The remains were not intact and had badly decomposed.
• The remains were so decomposed that it took authorities more than a week to identify the body.
• The remains were eventually identified as 14-year-old Celeste Rivas.
• D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has a matching tattoo with Rivas, and her mother said she has been missing for over a year and that her daughter's boyfriend was named David.
• D4vd initially decided to continue his world tour while cooperating with the investigation, but he cancelled the remainder of his tour on Wednesday.
• An unreleased love song written by D4vd references someone by the name of "Celeste" in the unfinished title and twice in the lyrics.
• Police raided a home connected to D4vd as they continue the investigation.
• D4vd moved out of the home that the police raided.
• Authorities did not officially deem the death a homicide since medical examiners have been unable to determine an official cause of death, but a detective has referred to the case as "an investigation into murder" in a filing.
• A private investigator made a "disturbing" discovery inside the house, finding items he believes could be used to "get rid of a person."
• LAPD believes a second suspect may have been involved.
• D4vd's friend, Neo Langston, was arrested in late January after failing to appear in court.
• Neo reportedly testified in front of a grand jury earlier this month.
• D4vd was not considered a suspect for the first two months of the investigation, but he was eventually named a suspect in the girl's death. He was eventually arrested on April 16 and charged with first-degree murder on April 20.

D4vd Charged With Murder

On Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman officially announced the charges for D4vd, four days after he was arrested in connection with the murder of the 14-year-old girl.

The singer has been charged with first-degree murder in Rivas' death. He has also been charged with having sex with a minor and mutilating a body.

"Celeste, a 14-year-old at that time, went to Mr. Burke's house in the Hollywood Hills," said Hochman during a press conference via Billboard. "She was never heard from again."

Additionally, the murder charge also has a "special circumstances" enhancement, which makes the maximum sentence death or life in prison without parole, though Hochman said his office has not yet determined whether to seek the death penalty.

A Grim Motive

This "special circumstances" enhancement is tied to what prosecutors believe is a grim motive for Rivas' murder.

Prosecutors say that D4vd murdered Celeste Rivas Hernandez to "maintain his very lucrative music career" that she had threatened.

Hochman said the "brutal and horrific murder" occurred on April 23, 2025 - just two days before the release of D4vd's debut album, Withered, which opened at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.

Prosecutors say that D4vd, who was 20 years old at the time, committed "lewd and lascivious sexual acts" with her before she turned 14, and that the singer murdered her "to maintain his very lucrative music career that Celeste was threatening on that particular night."

D4vd is currently in custody without bail. Last week, his legal team of Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said after his arrest that they "will vigorously defend David's innocence."

"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," added D4vd's lawyers in their initial statement.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 4:40 PM.