Los Angeles police arrested alt-pop singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, on Thursday, April 17, 2026, on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The arrest follows a seven-month investigation after the girl’s body was found in Burke's Tesla, towed from the Hollywood Hills, a detail that has drawn considerable public attention, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Burke's legal team has unequivocally stated his innocence.
The detention of David Burke, 21, occurred on Thursday, April 17, 2026, as investigators moved to bring charges in the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. This development comes after months of quiet inquiry following the discovery of the girl's remains last September. Ms.
Rivas Hernandez, who would have turned 15 the day before her body was located, had been reported missing in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, a community approximately 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Her family had been searching for her. The grim discovery unfolded on September 8, 2025, when a Tesla Model Y, registered to Burke at his family's Texas address, was towed from an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood.
Inside the vehicle, investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department found a cadaver bag. Court documents describe the bag as "covered with insects and a strong odor of decay." Detectives partially unzipped the bag. They observed a decomposed head and torso.
Later, Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office investigators confirmed the arms and legs had been severed from the body. Dismembered parts were found within a second black bag, positioned beneath the first. Rivas Hernandez's death has not been publicly disclosed.
Authorities had previously blocked the coroner’s office from releasing autopsy findings in November 2025, a move that generated speculation but little official explanation. Burke had not been publicly identified as a suspect until his arrest this week. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed its awareness of the arrest.
Its Major Crimes Division will now review the evidence. They will determine if sufficient grounds exist to file formal charges. Prosecutors are expected to receive the case from police on Monday. "Let us be clear — the 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," declared defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter in a joint statement following Burke's arrest.
These lawyers stressed that Burke is currently detained only under suspicion. No indictment has been returned. No criminal complaint has been filed.
They pledged to "vigorously defend David’s innocence." This public defense marks the start of what promises to be a complex legal battle. Burke, known to his fans as D4vd, had been the subject of an investigation by an Los Angeles County grand jury. The existence of this probe, and Burke’s designation as its target, came to light not through California courts, where the investigation was sealed, but through Texas.
His mother, father, and brother filed an objection in a Texas court to subpoenas demanding their testimony. The Associated Press obtained documents related to this sealed California grand jury investigation in February, providing the first public glimpse into the official focus on the singer. The Tesla Model Y, central to the discovery, was registered in Burke's name.
It was linked to the Texas address of his subpoenaed family members, according to court filings from prosecutors. The status of that grand jury investigation remains unclear after Burke's arrest. His attorneys noted its lack of indictment.
David Anthony Burke, age 21, burst onto the music scene with unexpected speed. He quickly became a figurehead of the alt-pop genre. His track "Romantic Homicide" went viral on TikTok in 2022.
It reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, propelling him into mainstream recognition. He signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records. His debut EP, "Petals to Thorns," arrived in 2023, followed by "The Lost Petals." These releases solidified his online popularity into a tangible music career.
Burke's artistic identity was forged not in traditional music hubs but online. "I was such an internet kid. The internet is really what I claim as my home," Burke told an interviewer last year. He explained that he was online every day, engaging in schoolwork, creating songs, producing videos, and posting on social media. "My neighborhood was Instagram and the society was the internet," he elaborated.
This digital upbringing shaped his sound and his rapid ascent. Rivas Hernandez’s body was found in September 2025, Burke was in the midst of touring to support his first full-length album, "Withered." He had also recently partnered with Epic Games for "Locked & Loaded," Fortnite’s first official anthem. The news of the discovery led to immediate disruptions.
The final two North American shows of his tour, scheduled for San Francisco and Los Angeles, were canceled. A performance at LA’s Grammy Museum was also called off. His European tour, slated to commence in Norway, never began.
This sudden halt in a burgeoning career illustrates the immediate impact of the investigation. This case, involving a rising music star and the tragic death of a teenager, cuts through the usual celebrity headlines. It forces a stark look at the consequences of alleged violent crime.
For the music industry, it represents a significant disruption. A talent who built his career on online engagement now faces serious charges. This situation also underscores the fragility of public image.
The perception of D4vd as an "internet kid" and a successful artist now conflicts sharply with the allegations. The legal process will scrutinize the facts. It will also inevitably shape public perception of Burke’s career and legacy, regardless of the outcome.
Here is the number that matters: a 14-year-old girl's life ended. The legal system is designed to provide answers and, if warranted, justice for victims and their families. This case brings into sharp focus the human cost behind sensational headlines, moving beyond the abstract to the concrete reality of a family grieving.
Strip away the noise, and the story is simpler than it looks: a young life lost, and a young man accused. The broader implications extend to how quickly public figures can fall from grace, and the rigorous scrutiny they face when allegations of this magnitude emerge. - David Burke, known as D4vd, was arrested on April 17, 2026, on suspicion of murder in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. - The 14-year-old girl's decomposed and dismembered body was found in Burke’s Tesla in September 2025. - The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will review the case for formal charges next week. The immediate focus shifts to Monday, when the Los Angeles Police Department is expected to present its case against David Burke to prosecutors.
This step is crucial. It will determine whether formal charges are filed against Burke. Should charges be filed, the legal proceedings will move into a more public phase, likely involving arraignment and pre-trial hearings.
The defense team has already signaled its intent to vigorously contest the allegations. Rivas Hernandez's death, which authorities have withheld thus far. The market is telling you something.
Listen. The legal system will now begin its work, with each procedural step watched closely for indications of the path ahead in this high-profile case.
Key Takeaways
— - David Burke, known as D4vd, was arrested on April 17, 2026, on suspicion of murder in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
— - The 14-year-old girl's decomposed and dismembered body was found in Burke’s Tesla in September 2025.
— - Burke’s defense attorneys assert his innocence, stating he was not the cause of Ms. Rivas Hernandez’s death.
— - The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will review the case for formal charges next week.
Source: AP News