Singer D4vd charged with murder over death of 14-year-old girl found dismembered in his abandoned Tesla
The US singer D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of a missing teenage girl whose dismembered remains were found in his Tesla last year.
Listen to this article
The musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Her remains were found in the boot of his abandoned car in the Hollywood Hills area last September in what prosecutors have described as a "brutal and horrific murder".
Celeste had been the subject of a long-term missing person appeal and was last seen alive in April 2024 when she was aged just 13.
Shortly after Hernandez's body was found, the singer cancelled his world tour and retreated from the spotlight.
Burke was arrested last week and held without bail, seven months after her remains were discovered.
Police held a press conference in Los Angeles today where the charges against the 21-year-old were laid out.
Charges also include numerous lewd sexual acts with an individual younger than 14 years old, DA Nathan Hochman told the press conference.
The DA's office could eventually seek the death penalty in the case, Hochman also said.
Hochman added on April 23 2025, Celeste, who was aged 14 at the time, went to Burke's house in the Hollywood Hills and "she was never heard from again".
In a statement to US media last week following his arrest, Burke's lawyers said: "Let us be clear - 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".
"There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed.
"David has only been detained under suspicion.
"We will vigorously defend David’s innocence."
