D4vd charged with first-degree murder in death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, in Hollywood

Singer and songwriter d4vd has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernández, whose dismembered body was found last year in a Tesla owned by the musician.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges Monday morning, saying he was charged with first-degree murder under special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14 and mutilation of a corpse.

“These charges include the most serious charges that a prosecutor’s office can bring,” Hochman said.

D4vd, whose real name was David Anthony Burke, was stopped last week after becoming the target of grand jury investigation in Hernandez’s death.

The murder charges included special circumstances: lying in wait, committing the crime for profit, and murdering the witness as part of an investigation. Hochman said the first-degree murder charge could carry the maximum sentence of life in prison, without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Burke appeared in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Monday afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty.

“The decision on whether or not the prosecutor’s office will seek the death penalty will be made at a later date,” Hochman said.

CBS LA has reached out to Burke’s attorneys for comment and is awaiting a response.

“The Burkes are not surprised but terribly disappointed that the District Attorney chose to charge David. Nonetheless, they are one hundred percent supportive and supportive of him,” said a statement from the Burke family, shared by their attorney.

Hernandez’s remains discovered on September 8, 2025, after police responded to reports of a foul odor attracting flies at the Hollywood Tow yard. His body was found “severely decomposed” and “dismembered” in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, according to court records.

Authorities found a decomposed head and torso in a body bag inside a Tesla stored at the yard, according to court documents. In another bag inside the car, dismembered body parts were found.

“The condition of his remains delayed the medical examiner’s ability to determine the cause of his death. The considerable amount of time that elapsed between his death and its discovery meant that crucial evidence had deteriorated or disappeared,” Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said Hernandez was reported missing Lake Elsinore over a year ago. A “Missing Person” flyer said she was last seen on April 5, 2024, after leaving her home at 9 p.m. that day. Hochman said Hernandez was at Burke’s Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, at “his invitation.” McDonnell said Hernandez had a “sexual relationship” with Burke.

He added that throughout the seven-month investigation, the department was criticized for the way it handled the case and its decision not to provide details.

“I want to be clear about something: My duty is not to fuel speculation. It is to do justice,” McDonnell said.

Hochman said his office will use admissible testimony, documents and different types of testimony in their case.

“In a situation where you don’t have eyewitness testimony … you have to conduct a very rigorous and thorough investigation to look at all the digital and forensic evidence,” Hochman said.

Burke was participating in the “d4vd Withered 2025 World Tour” when Hernandez’s identity was revealed. He canceled a concert in Seattle the same day she was identified and subsequent show cancellations followed.

“To Ms. Rivas’ family, we cannot erase the pain you feel,” McDonnell said. “We hope today will bring some measure of accountability and a step in the journey to healing.”

Hochman said anyone who may have information regarding the case should come forward. Burke remains jailed without bail and is due back in court Thursday.