Singer D4vd facing death penalty in murder of 14-year-old girl found in trunk of his Tesla
Singer D4vd has been formally charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Rivas Hernandez’s remains were found in the front trunk of a Tesla that was detained at a Hollywood tow truck in September last year.
Police said the vehicle was registered to D4vd’s address in Texas. D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, was officially named a suspect in the February murder and was arrested on April 16.
On Monday, the 21-year-old singer was charged with first-degree murder under special circumstances, sustained indecent acts against a person under the age of 14, and dismembering human remains from a corpse.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office explained the specific circumstances surrounding D4vd’s first-degree murder charge; these charges include ‘committing a hold-up, committing this crime for financial gain, or murdering a witness during an investigation’.
The charges filed in California carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole and the death penalty.
A decision on the death penalty will be made at a later date, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said at a news conference Monday.
D4vd is currently being held in a Los Angeles jail without bail.
D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, was officially named as a suspect in the murder in February. He was arrested on April 16 and formally charged with first-degree murder on April 20.
The singer’s mug shot is seen here at Monday’s press conference
Pictured: Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He was found dead inside a Tesla last year
“Let’s be clear; the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not kill Celeste Rivas Hernandez and that there was no cause of her death,” D4vd’s attorneys said after his arrest.
Rivas is believed to have been romantically involved with the 21-year-old singer at the time of her death, according to friends and family.
His family said he was last seen leaving his home in Lake Elsinore in the spring of 2024, when he was 13 years old. But they said this wasn’t his first escape.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Rivas Hernandez’s remains were discovered last September after the Tesla allegedly belonging to D4vd was left on a public street for more than 72 hours.
It was later seized and taken to Hollywood Tow.
On September 8 last year, employees at the tow truck noticed a bad smell coming from the vehicle and informed the police.
Investigators said the girl was dismembered and found her dismembered head and torso in a cadaver bag.
The woman was found days after her 15th birthday, but police believe she likely died much earlier, and the county medical examiner says the remains were ‘severely decomposed’.
Celeste Rivas and D4vd, who are believed to be in a romantic relationship, were photographed together
Picture: Tesla SUV where police say Rivas’ body was found on September 8, 2025
Picture: Flat raided by police after obtaining a search warrant in September
Rivas’ mother reported missing three different times She said that throughout 2024, her daughter was dating a man named ‘David’ whom she had never met. It was also reported that the two shared matching ‘Shhh’ tattoos on their right index fingers.
Friends of D4vd told TMZ that the two are seen together “often.”
The grand jury investigation into D4vd began in mid-November. Jurors were presented with evidence by prosecutors and those involved, including D4vd’s executives and friend Neo Langston, were called to testify.
In September, police obtained a search warrant for the $4.1 million Hollywood Hills home where Burke was staying, where they seized a computer, according to ABC News.
Police have not released details about what they may have found on the computer.
After the search, the owner of the house, Mladen Trifunovic, hired private detective Steve Fischer to investigate whether the young girl was staying at the house.
Fischer said a ‘burning cage’ with enough power to turn a dead person’s body to ashes was once found in the swanky Los Angeles area where Burke once lived.
‘Given that the remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez were ultimately found in Tesla [trunk]”The presence of an incinerator connected to the vehicle in question in the same residence certainly raises questions about intent,” he said. in question In X.
After Rivas’ death, the lyrics of D4vd’s songs became the subject of much scrutiny due to their violent nature.
In one of her most popular singles, ‘Romantic Homicide’, she talks about a love that is no longer around.
The last words of the 2022 song are “In the back of my mind I killed you… And I don’t even regret it… I can’t believe I said it… But it’s true… I hate you.”
D4vd rose to fame following a series of viral TikTok hits that same year.
Its popularity has led to collaborations with stars like SZA and Kali Uchis. D4vd was on a tour when Hernandez’s body was discovered, which was later cancelled.
