Singer D4vd Arrested in Connection to Teen Girl’s Death

Los Angeles police have announced the arrest of US singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, in the case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl whose remains were uncovered in his Tesla in September 2025. The 21-year-old was taken into custody without bail and will face the District Attorney’s office on Monday. The arrest marks the first major update in the case since the body’s discovery in late September.

Authorities identified the remains of the missing teen in a Hollywood tow yard after reports of a strange smell emanating from the vehicle. Court documents reveal that her decomposed head and torso were found in a cadaver bag within the front boot of a Tesla registered to D4vd’s Texas address. The county’s medical examiner noted the severe state of decomposition but delayed determining the cause of death until further investigation.

“The body was ‘severely decomposed’ and the ruling on the cause of death is pending,” stated the medical examiner.

Officials suggested the girl may have been deceased for weeks before her remains were discovered. While the cause of death remains undisclosed, the case has been under scrutiny as a death investigation for months. To protect the integrity of the probe, a judge sealed the teen’s death records in November, limiting public access to information shared by the medical examiner.

Speculation has surged online since the discovery, with many linking the victim to D4vd’s “Romantic Homicide” persona. His father, Dawud Burke, recently challenged a California court’s summons in a Texas hearing, introducing previously unseen evidence that bolstered the grand jury’s focus on D4vd. Court filings, obtained by the BBC, confirmed he was a primary target of the investigation and could face charges for one murder count.

Details about the victim’s appearance were released, including her attire: a small black tube top, leggings, and jewelry such as a yellow metal stud earring and a yellow metal chain bracelet. A tattoo reading “Shhh…” on her index finger closely matched the marking on D4vd’s own finger, sparking theories about their connection. Shortly after the remains were found, D4vd canceled his world tour, signaling the end of his pop career and a withdrawal from public view.

Law enforcement raided the Hollywood Hills mansion where he resided, just blocks from where the Tesla was towed. His association with brands like Hollister and Crocs also ended, with his career taking a dramatic turn. Kali Uchis, the Telepatía artist, removed their collaborative project *Crashing* from public platforms, aligning with the growing narrative around D4vd’s alleged involvement.