Los Angeles prosecutors say singer David Anthony Burke, known publicly as D4vd, will face a first-degree murder charge in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose remains were discovered in the trunk of his car months after she vanished.
Authorities confirmed that Burke, 21, is expected to be formally charged Monday in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The case has drawn national attention due to the timeline, the victim’s age, and the disturbing condition in which her body was found.
Police located Celeste’s remains on September 8 inside an abandoned Tesla linked to Burke. The vehicle had been taken to an impound lot in Los Angeles after workers reported a strong odor coming from the trunk. Investigators later confirmed the remains belonged to the missing teenager.
Nathan Hochman announced the charge during a press conference, describing the case as every parent’s worst fear.
“I am a parent of three children, and a parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back, as we will show in a court of law,” Hochman said.
Prosecutors say Burke could face the death penalty due to additional special circumstances tied to the case. A final decision on that possibility will come at a later stage in the legal process.
Beyond the murder charge, Burke is also accused of engaging in lewd and lascivious sexual acts with a minor under 14 and mutilating human remains. He is expected to appear in court for arraignment Monday afternoon.
Investigators believe Celeste was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, when she arrived at Burke’s home in the Hollywood Hills. According to Jim McDonnell, the two were involved in a sexual relationship before her disappearance.
“The substantial amount of time that passed between her death and the discovery meant that crucial evidence had degraded or disappeared, and as detectives worked to uncover the truth, they also had to sift through and debunk a great deal of false information circulating publicly,” McDonnell added.
Celeste had been reported missing in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, a city southeast of Los Angeles. Authorities say the long gap between her disappearance and the discovery of her remains complicated the investigation. Officials also confirmed that her body showed signs of having been dead for an extended period.
The exact cause of death has not been released. The medical examiner previously cited a security hold requested by investigators as the reason for withholding that information.
At the time Celeste’s remains were found, Burke was on tour. He canceled upcoming performances shortly after news of the discovery became public.
Court records reveal that a grand jury had already been investigating Burke earlier this year. Documents indicated Celeste “may have been the victim of foul play,” prompting subpoenas for Burke’s parents to testify.
Burke’s legal team pushed back against the accusations, signaling a strong defense ahead.
“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,” the attorneys said in a statement.
The case now moves into the court system, where prosecutors will attempt to prove intent and responsibility in one of the most closely watched criminal investigations in Los Angeles this year.
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