TikTok star charged with murdering 14-year-old girl — her dismembered body found in his abandoned Tesla
Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Victim
David Anthony Burke
Suspect
Los Angeles, CA
Location
Apr 23, 2025
Incident Date
10/10
Viral Intensity
Case Summary
David Anthony Burke — known as d4vd, the alt-pop singer whose breakout hit "Romantic Homicide" went viral on TikTok — was arrested on April 16, 2026 in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her dismembered and decomposed remains were discovered on September 8, 2025, packed in two cadaver bags inside the front trunk of Burke's abandoned Tesla Model Y at a Hollywood impound lot. Prosecutors allege Burke killed Celeste on or around April 23, 2025, the last day she was known to be alive, at his Hollywood Hills home — to silence her from exposing a prolonged sexual relationship. He is charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, and mutilation of human remains. A significant amount of child sexual abuse material was found on his iCloud account. Burke has pleaded not guilty; his attorneys deny all allegations.
Key Facts
Da
Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney
Label
Darkroom/Interscope Records
Charges
First-degree murder with special circumstances (lying in wait; financial gain; murdering a witness), Continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, Lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14, Mutilation of human remains
Evidence
Dismembered remains in Tesla frunk, child sexual abuse material on iCloud, chainsaw at rental home, phone records, Twitch livestream footage, matching "Shhh…" tattoos
Victim Age
14 at time of death
Viral Hits
"Romantic Homicide" (2022, No. 33 Billboard Hot 100), "Here With Me"
Bail Status
Held without bail
Suspect Age
21
Jurisdiction
Los Angeles County, California
Victim Hometown
Lake Elsinore, California
Allegation Motive
Financial gain — prosecutors allege Burke killed Celeste to protect his music career after she threatened to expose their sexual relationship
Defense Attorneys
Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, Regina Peter
Sentence Possible
Life without the possibility of parole or death penalty
Suspect Occupation
Alt-pop recording artist (Darkroom/Interscope Records)
For millions of TikTok users who grew up on "Romantic Homicide," the murder charges against D4vd represent a gut-punch — and a reckoning with the mythology of parasocial fandom.
A "significant amount" of child sexual abuse material was discovered on a device and iCloud account belonging to singer D4vd, prosecutors told a judge Thursday — adding to the mounting evidence in the murder case.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a seventh-grader from Lake Elsinore with a soft smile and thick, curly hair. Months after her family first reported her missing, her remains were found in a Hollywood impound lot.
California's special circumstances murder charges — lying in wait, financial gain, murdering a witness — can qualify a defendant for the death penalty. Legal experts break down what this means for D4vd's case.
David Anthony Burke built a Gen Z fanbase with "Romantic Homicide" and "Here With Me." Now the 21-year-old alt-pop artist faces the death penalty in a case prosecutors call a "brutal and horrific murder."
Singer D4vd pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in his abandoned Tesla. He remains held without bail.
Court documents detail how workers at a Hollywood tow yard discovered two black cadaver bags in the front trunk of a Tesla linked to singer D4vd — one containing a decomposed head and torso, the other severed arms and legs.
From a 13-year-old Lake Elsinore girl reported missing to dismembered remains found in a Hollywood impound lot — a complete timeline of the D4vd murder investigation.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday that singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division arrested singer D4vd on April 16 on suspicion of murder. The case traces back to September 2025, when Celeste's dismembered remains were found in his impounded Tesla.
Kali Uchis announced she is working to remove "Crashing," her collaboration with D4vd, from streaming platforms after the singer's connection to the Celeste Rivas Hernandez murder investigation became public.
Case Timeline
Sep 2023 – Sep 2024
Prosecutors allege Burke engaged in continuous sexual abuse of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, beginning when she was 13 years old
Apr 5, 2024
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 13, reported missing from Lake Elsinore, CA — approximately 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles
Jan 2024
Burke and Celeste appeared together in a Twitch livestream; photographs emerged showing him at a black Tesla near her home
Apr 5, 2025
D4vd releases debut album "Withered" — two days after what prosecutors allege was Celeste's last day alive
Apr 23, 2025
Celeste visits Burke's Hollywood Hills home — she is never heard from again; prosecutors allege she was killed there
May 2025
Prosecutors allege Burke mutilated Celeste's remains approximately two weeks after her death
Aug 2025
D4vd embarks on his "Withered World Tour" across the US and internationally
Sep 8, 2025
Workers at a Hollywood impound lot report a foul odor from an impounded black Tesla Model Y; LAPD responds and discovers two cadaver bags in the frunk containing Celeste's dismembered remains
Sep 16, 2025
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identifies the remains as Celeste Rivas Hernandez; Burke cancels Seattle show and remaining North American and European tour dates
Nov 2025
LAPD obtains court order sealing autopsy findings; investigators search Burke's Hollywood Hills rental, seizing laptop and other items; a chainsaw is found at the property
Dec 2025
Grand jury begins hearing testimony; TMZ reports Burke expected to face murder charges; prosecutors likely pursuing indictment
Feb 25, 2026
Burke confirmed as grand jury target after sealed California court documents unsealed in Texas reveal subpoenas to his parents and brother
Apr 16, 2026
LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division arrests Burke near Chateau Marmont in Hollywood Hills; held without bail
Apr 20, 2026
DA Nathan Hochman announces formal charges: first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual acts with a minor, lewd acts with a minor under 14, mutilation of human remains
Apr 21, 2026
Burke arraigned; defense attorney Blair Berk enters not guilty pleas on all counts; judge continues no-bail hold
Apr 23, 2026
Court hearing reveals prosecutors found a "significant amount" of child pornography on Burke's iCloud account; preliminary hearing scheduled