Singer D4vd Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of 14-Year-Old Girl Found in His Tesla
Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, pleaded not guilty on Monday to a first-degree murder charge in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The girl's dismembered and decomposed body was discovered in September inside his apparently abandoned Tesla, nearly a year after she was last known to be alive.
Charges and Court Appearance
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged the 21-year-old alt-pop singer with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14, and mutilating a body. His attorney entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to all counts during his first court appearance. The judge ordered Burke to be held without bail.
Burke appeared behind glass in a custody area of the court, dressed in black, while the parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez were present in the courtroom. The charges revealed key details in a case that had been under a largely secret investigation for seven months since the body was found.
Allegations of Abuse and Murder
Authorities allege that the Houston-born singer killed Rivas Hernandez to protect his rising music career after she threatened to report their sexual relationship. According to a criminal complaint, Burke engaged in continuous sexual abuse of the girl for at least a year from September 2023 to September 2024, starting when she was 13.
Prosecutors stated that Rivas Hernandez, described as a "runaway," was 14 when she was killed with a sharp object on or around April 23, 2025, while heading to Burke's house in the Hollywood Hills. His debut album, "Withered," was released just two days after she was last known to be alive.
The murder charges include special circumstances—lying in wait, committing the crime for financial gain, and murdering a witness—that could carry the death penalty. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek it. The witness allegedly killed is Rivas Hernandez herself, who could have testified about the sex crime allegations.
Defense and Prosecution Statements
Lead defense attorney Blair Berk stated, "We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez. We would like to have the evidence come into the light of day." Berk requested a public preliminary evidentiary hearing as soon as possible, following months of secret grand jury proceedings.
Burke is entitled under California law to a public preliminary hearing within 10 court days of his arraignment, where a judge decides if there's enough evidence for trial. Unlike most defendants, he did not waive this right. A hearing to determine next steps was scheduled for Thursday.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman, the lead prosecutor, said, "We'll be very happy to put on the evidence that we've collected."
Discovery of the Body and Investigation
The long-dead body of Rivas Hernandez was found inside a Tesla towed from the Hollywood Hills on September 8, a day after she would have turned 15. Burke was on tour at the time. Her family had reported her missing from Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the case "a parent's nightmare," noting that Celeste went to Burke's house and was never heard from again. Police searching the Tesla in a tow yard found a cadaver bag "covered with insects and a strong odor of decay." Inside, they discovered a head and torso, with arms and legs severed from the body. A second bag contained additional dismembered body parts.
No cause of death has been publicly revealed, as police obtained a court order to block autopsy details, expected to be lifted after charges were filed. The family of Rivas Hernandez has remained private and has not made public statements.
Background on D4vd and Career Impact
D4vd, pronounced "David," gained popularity among Gen Z for his blend of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop. He went viral on TikTok in 2022 with the hit "Romantic Homicide" and signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records, releasing EPs in 2023. The Associated Press confirmed he was dropped by Interscope last year.
When the body was discovered, Burke continued his North American tour but canceled final shows and a European tour after reports of his involvement spread. He made his debut at the Coachella music festival in April 2025, telling the AP, "I was such an internet kid. The internet is really what I claim as my home."
The case remains under investigation, with further court proceedings expected to shed light on the evidence and allegations in this horrific and grisly crime.
