A grotesque discovery in a Hollywood impound lot sparked a monthslong investigation that led to homicide and intercourse abuse charges towards a 21-year-old singer.
After decomposing, dismembered stays have been present in an deserted Tesla, investigators shortly linked the automobile to its registered proprietor — recognized by authorities as David Anthony Burke, recognized professionally as D4vd, who has practically 4 million followers on TikTok.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 25: d4vd performs through the 2024 Boston Calling Music Pageant at Harvard Athletic Advanced on Might 25, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
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A number of days later, officers recognized the sufferer whose stays have been discovered within the automobile — 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, of Lake Elsinore in Riverside County.
Figuring out how the teenager died took time, and after months of further investigation, prosecutors introduced costs towards D4vd that allege her homicide was a premeditated try to maintain her from ruining his music profession by exposing their underage relationship.
A photograph of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is displayed Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles for a press convention concerning the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old lady whose dismembered physique was present in his automobile. (AP Picture/Damian Dovarganes)
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D4vd’s attorneys and household have maintained his innocence.
Here is a take a look at the case.
Sept. 7, 2023
An 18-year-old D4vd allegedly begins sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez, who has simply turned 13, in accordance with the grievance. The grievance states that he “resided with, and had recurring entry,” to her.
April 5, 2024
Rivas Hernandez is final reported lacking by her household. Police have described her as a runaway, and she or he had been reported lacking beforehand.
April 23, 2025
Rivas Hernandez is final seen alive, in accordance with prosecutors, who allege D4vd invited her to his house within the Hollywood Hills and deliberately killed her on at the present time “via mendacity in wait.”
Singer-songwriter, David Burke aka D4vd sits in artist house at Coachella music competition on April 18, 2025 in Indio, Calif. (AP Picture)
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April 24, 2025
Tickets for D4vd’s world tour go on sale.
April 25, 2025
D4vd releases his debut album, “Withered.”
Might 5, 2025
D4vd is accused of mutilating Rivas Hernandez’s stays, in accordance with the grievance. Prosecutors allege he lower up her physique and stuffed her stays in two luggage that have been then left within the entrance trunk of his automobile for months.
Aug. 5, 2025
D4vd kicks off his “Withered” tour with a live performance in Del Mar, California.
Sept. 8, 2025
A day after what would have been her fifteenth birthday, Rivas Hernandez’s badly decomposed, dismembered stays are discovered within the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd at an impound lot in Hollywood. Officers responded to the lot “for a foul odor coming from a automobile,” Los Angeles police stated. Her head and torso have been present in one bag, and her legs and arms in one other, in accordance with courtroom filings.
The Tesla had been on the impound lot for 2 days after being reported deserted on a Hollywood road, investigators stated.
Sept. 17, 2025
LAKE ELSINORE, CA – SEPTEMBER 25, 2025: Images, intimate notes, and flowers are among the many objects left at a memorial on Thursday for slain teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez who was discovered lifeless within the trunk of a Tesla in a Hollywood tow yard on September 25, 2025 in Lake Elsinore, California.
Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Occasions through Getty Photographs
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identifies the sufferer discovered within the automobile as Rivas Hernandez.
Sept. 19, 2025
The remaining dates of D4vd’s “Withered” tour are canceled. His document label, Darkroom/Interscope, dropped him sooner or later in 2025, a supply with data of the state of affairs confirmed to ABC Information.
November 2025
The primary of three secretive grand juries take a look at the case, in accordance with prosecutors. They have been investigative grand juries to assist compel testimony and to not acquire indictments.
Nov. 18, 2025
Sources affirm to ABC Information that D4vd is considered a suspect within the loss of life investigation.
Nov. 24, 2025
A courtroom locations a safety maintain on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report on Rivas Hernandez’s loss of life. In accordance with a press release from the health worker, the maintain was initiated by the Los Angeles Police Division, barring the discharge on the trigger and method of loss of life and the report till additional discover.
December 2025
The second grand jury seems on the case, in accordance with prosecutors.
February 2026
The third grand jury seems on the case, in accordance with prosecutors.
April 16, 2026
Los Angeles Police Division officers work through the arrest of David Burke, a 21-year-old musician recognized professionally as D4vd, on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, at an undisclosed location, April 16, 2026.
LAPD/Reuters
D4vd is arrested on suspicion of homicide in reference to Rivas Hernandez’s loss of life and is being held with out bail, Los Angeles police announce.
April 20, 2026
A mugshot of David Anthony Burke, whose stage identify is D4vd, is displayed Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles at a press convention concerning the case of D4vd, who was arrested on suspicion of killing a 14-year-old lady whose dismembered physique was present in his automobile. (AP Picture/Damian Dovarganes)
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D4vd is formally charged with homicide, steady sexual abuse and unlawfully mutilating a physique. The costs allege he dedicated “lewd and lascivious sexual acts” with Rivas Hernandez whereas she was below the age of 14, and that he killed her for monetary acquire “to take care of his very profitable musical profession that Celeste was threatening” to show, Los Angeles County District Legal professional Nathan Hochman says at a information convention saying the fees.
A not responsible plea is entered on D4vd’s behalf throughout his first courtroom look. His attorneys preserve his innocence, saying, “The precise proof on this case will present that David Burke didn’t homicide Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the reason for her loss of life.”
D4vd’s dad and mom additionally say they “help and stand by him 100%.”
David Anthony Burke, whose stage identify is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on costs of killing a 14-year-old lady whose dismembered physique was present in his automobile. (Ted Soqui/Pool Picture through AP)
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April 21, 2026
The household of Rivas Hernandez speaks out following the fees, saying in a press release launched by way of their legal professional, “Celeste was a gorgeous, robust lady who liked to sing and dance. Each Friday evening was film evening and we spent great occasions collectively.”
A makeshift Memorial for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was killed and located inside a automobile owned by singer D4vd, is positioned exterior her house in Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Picture/Damian Dovarganes)
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“We love her very a lot and she or he at all times advised us that she liked us. We miss her deeply,” the assertion continued. “All we would like is justice for Celeste.”
April 22, 2026
The Los Angeles County health worker’s report is released, discovering that Rivas Hernandez died by “a number of penetrating accidents” and itemizing the style of loss of life as murder.
She had two penetrating wounds to her torso, together with harm to her liver, and there was proof of traumatic harm, in accordance with the report. There was extreme postmortem change to her dismembered physique primarily based on how lengthy she had been lifeless.
