The charges come eight months after the remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, were discovered in D4vd’s impounded car.

D4vd charged with murder after teen girl’s body was found in his car, singer could face death penalty

The charges come eight months after the remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, were discovered in D4vd's impounded car.

By Sharareh Drury

April 20, 2026 1:29 p.m. ET

D4vd's mug shot. Credit:

Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty

- D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder, the Los Angeles County D.A. announced.

- The singer will also face charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

- The charges come eight months after the remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, were discovered in D4vd's impounded car.**

The singer known as D4vd has been charged with murder months after the body of a teenage girl was found in his car.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during a press conference Monday that the singer will face a first-degree murder charge with potential eligibility for the death penalty. D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was also charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

D4vd was arrested April 16 on suspicion of murder, eight months after the decomposed and dismembered remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were first discovered by Los Angeles police in an impounded Tesla reportedly registered to the singer. Police had responded to reports of a "foul odor" coming from a vehicle in a Hollywood tow yard.

Celeste had been reported missing by her family in April 2024, when she was 13.

Lyvans Boolaky/Getty

Describing what happened to Celeste as "a parent's worst nightmare," Hochman alleged that the teenager went to Burke’s home in the Hollywood Hills on April 23, 2025, and that was the last time she was seen alive. Hochman declined to give details as to how Celeste was killed, but said the coroner’s report would be released shortly. He added that there is physical, forensic, and digital evidence that will be presented in court "to prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt."

Burke is accused of murder with multiple "special circumstances" that make the case eligible for either the death penalty or life without parole. Those circumstances include lying in wait, murder for financial gain, as well as murdering a witness to a crime. Celeste is considered a witness to the sexual abuse charge.

Shortly after D4vd's arrest last week, TMZ published a video of the singer being taken into custody.

"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," representatives for the singer shared in a statement to the outlet.

"There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed," they continued. "David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence."**

Singer D4vd arrested on suspicion of murder after teen girl's body was found in his car

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D4vd is known for viral singles like "Here With Me" and "Romantic Homicide," which have each surpassed 1.5 billion streams on Spotify. He kicked off his world tour supporting his debut album, *Withered*, in August.

The tour was scheduled to cover North America and Europe, running through November 2025, but was canceled in September due to the homicide investigation.

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