By BOB NORRIS
ShowbizToday.com – April 19, 2026
LOS ANGELES – Singer D4vd, known for the hit song Here With Me, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 14-year-old girl whose remains were found in his Tesla last September, according to police.
The 21-year-old musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, surrendered Thursday in Hollywood and was booked into jail about five hours later. He is being held without bail.
The victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was reported missing by her family in April 2024. Her remains were discovered on Sept. 8 inside the front boot of a Tesla registered to Burke’s address in Texas. A tow yard in Hollywood alerted authorities after receiving reports of a foul odor coming from the vehicle.
Court documents indicate investigators found the girl’s decomposed head and torso in a cadaver bag. The medical examiner has deferred a ruling on the cause of death, stating the body was “severely decomposed” and may have been dead “for several weeks” before discovery.
Burke’s attorneys released a statement to U.S. media following the arrest.
“Let us be clear – 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,” the lawyers said. They added that no indictment has been returned and no criminal complaint has been filed, describing Burke as “detained under suspicion.”
The Los Angeles Police Department, however, has characterized the action as an arrest “for the murder of Celeste Rivas.” The department posted images on social media showing tactical officers approaching a home to take Burke into custody.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office confirmed to the BBC that it expects to receive a case presentation on Monday. Prosecutors will then review the evidence to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to file charges. An update is expected that same day.
Under a 48-hour detention rule that excludes weekends and court holidays, Burke must be charged or released by 5 p.m. local time on Monday.
A grand jury began hearing evidence in the case in December. Court filings obtained by the BBC confirmed that Burke had been identified as a “target” of that investigation and could face one count of murder.
The girl’s body was found wearing a tube top, size small black leggings, a yellow metal stud earring, and a yellow metal chain bracelet. She also had a tattoo on her index finger that read “Shhh…” – a marking nearly identical to one on Burke’s own finger.
Rivas Hernandez lived about 75 miles from where her body was discovered. Her family said she had run away from their Lake Elsinore home previously. She was a first-generation daughter of immigrant parents from El Salvador.
In the months following the discovery, Burke canceled his world tour and retreated from public view. He was dropped from marketing campaigns with Hollister and Crocs, and singer Kali Uchis removed their collaboration, Crashing.
Burke rose to fame as a teenager posting Fortnite videos online. He taught himself music production and released his debut EP, Petals To Thorns, in 2023. His debut album arrived in April 2025. At the time of his arrest, he had 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
The singer’s family was summoned from Texas to testify before the grand jury. Burke’s father, Dawud Burke, fought the summons in a Texas court and inadvertently included sealed material from the California case in his filings.
The teen’s family launched a fundraiser late last year to help with funeral expenses, describing her as “a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend.”
The BBC has confirmed Burke will spend the weekend in jail. His representatives have not yet commented on Thursday’s arrest.
— Bob Norris