A gruesome discovery in a Hollywood impound lot sparked a monthslong investigation that led to murder and sex abuse charges against a 21-year-old singer.
After decomposing, dismembered remains were found in an abandoned Tesla, investigators quickly linked the car to its registered owner — identified by authorities as David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, who has nearly 4 million followers on TikTok.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 25: d4vd performs during the 2024 Boston Calling Music Festival at Harvard Athletic Complex on May 25, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Several days later, officials identified the victim whose remains were found in the vehicle — 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, of Lake Elsinore in Riverside County.
Determining how the teen died took time, and after months of additional investigation, prosecutors announced charges against D4vd that allege her murder was a premeditated attempt to keep her from ruining his music career by exposing their underage relationship.
A photo of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is displayed Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles for a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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D4vd’s lawyers and family have maintained his innocence.
Here’s a look at the case.
Sept. 7, 2023
An 18-year-old D4vd allegedly begins sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez, who has just turned 13, according to the complaint. The complaint states that he “resided with, and had recurring access,” to her.
April 5, 2024
Rivas Hernandez is last reported missing by her family. Police have described her as a runaway, and she had been reported missing previously.
April 23, 2025
Rivas Hernandez is last seen alive, according to prosecutors, who allege D4vd invited her to his home in the Hollywood Hills and intentionally killed her on this day “by means of lying in wait.”
Singer-songwriter, David Burke aka D4vd sits in artist space at Coachella music festival on April 18, 2025 in Indio, Calif. (AP Photo)
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April 24, 2025
Tickets for D4vd’s world tour go on sale.
April 25, 2025
D4vd releases his debut album, “Withered.”
May 5, 2025
D4vd is accused of mutilating Rivas Hernandez’s remains, according to the complaint. Prosecutors allege he cut up her body and stuffed her remains in two bags that were then left in the front trunk of his car for months.
Aug. 5, 2025
D4vd kicks off his “Withered” tour with a concert in Del Mar, California.
Sept. 8, 2025
A day after what would have been her 15th birthday, Rivas Hernandez’s badly decomposed, dismembered remains are discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd at an impound lot in Hollywood. Officers responded to the lot “for a foul odor coming from a vehicle,” Los Angeles police said. Her head and torso were found in one bag, and her arms and legs in another, according to court filings.
The Tesla had been at the impound lot for two days after being reported abandoned on a Hollywood street, investigators said.
Sept. 17, 2025
LAKE ELSINORE, CA – SEPTEMBER 25, 2025: Photographs, intimate notes, and flowers are among the items left at a memorial on Thursday for slain teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez who was found dead in the trunk of a Tesla in a Hollywood tow yard on September 25, 2025 in Lake Elsinore, California.
Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identifies the victim found in the vehicle as Rivas Hernandez.
Sept. 19, 2025
The remaining dates of D4vd’s “Withered” tour are canceled. His record label, Darkroom/Interscope, dropped him at some point in 2025, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ABC News.
November 2025
The first of three secretive grand juries look at the case, according to prosecutors. They were investigative grand juries to help compel testimony and not to gain indictments.
Nov. 18, 2025
Sources confirm to ABC News that D4vd is considered a suspect in the death investigation.
Nov. 24, 2025
A court places a security hold on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report on Rivas Hernandez’s death. According to a statement from the medical examiner, the hold was initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department, barring the release on the cause and manner of death and the report until further notice.
December 2025
The second grand jury looks at the case, according to prosecutors.
February 2026
The third grand jury looks at the case, according to prosecutors.
April 16, 2026
Los Angeles Police Department officers work during the arrest of David Burke, a 21-year-old musician known professionally as D4vd, on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, at an undisclosed location, April 16, 2026.
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D4vd is arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with Rivas Hernandez’s death and is being held without bail, Los Angeles police announce.
April 20, 2026
A mugshot of David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is displayed Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles at a press conference regarding the case of D4vd, who was arrested on suspicion of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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D4vd is formally charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse and unlawfully mutilating a body. The charges allege he committed “lewd and lascivious sexual acts” with Rivas Hernandez while she was under the age of 14, and that he killed her for financial gain “to maintain his very lucrative musical career that Celeste was threatening” to expose, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says at a news conference announcing the charges.
A not guilty plea is entered on D4vd’s behalf during his first court appearance. His attorneys maintain his innocence, saying, “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.”
D4vd’s parents also say they “support and stand by him one hundred percent.”
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
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April 21, 2026
The family of Rivas Hernandez speaks out following the charges, saying in a statement released through their attorney, “Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together.”
A makeshift Memorial for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was killed and found inside a vehicle owned by singer D4vd, is placed outside her home in Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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“We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply,” the statement continued. “All we want is justice for Celeste.”
April 22, 2026
The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s report is released, finding that Rivas Hernandez died by “multiple penetrating injuries” and listing the manner of death as homicide.
She had two penetrating wounds to her torso, including injury to her liver, and there was evidence of traumatic injury, according to the report. There was severe postmortem change to her dismembered body based on how long she had been dead.