A ugly discovery in a Hollywood impound lot sparked a monthslong investigation that led to homicide and intercourse abuse charges towards a 21-year-old singer.
After decomposing, dismembered stays had been present in an deserted Tesla, investigators shortly linked the automotive to its registered proprietor — recognized by authorities as David Anthony Burke, recognized professionally as D4vd, who has almost 4 million followers on TikTok.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 25: d4vd performs through the 2024 Boston Calling Music Competition at Harvard Athletic Advanced on Might 25, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Pictures
A number of days later, officers recognized the sufferer whose stays had been discovered within the automobile — 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, of Lake Elsinore in Riverside County.
Figuring out how the teenager died took time, and after months of further investigation, prosecutors introduced prices towards D4vd that allege her homicide was a premeditated try to maintain her from ruining his music profession by exposing their underage relationship.
A photograph of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is displayed Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles for a press convention relating to the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old lady whose dismembered physique was present in his automotive. (AP Picture/Damian Dovarganes)
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D4vd’s attorneys and household have maintained his innocence.
Here is a have a look at the case.
Sept. 7, 2023
An 18-year-old D4vd allegedly begins sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez, who has simply turned 13, in keeping with the grievance. The grievance states that he “resided with, and had recurring entry,” to her.
April 5, 2024
Rivas Hernandez is final reported lacking by her household. Police have described her as a runaway, and she or he had been reported lacking beforehand.
April 23, 2025
Rivas Hernandez is final seen alive, in keeping with prosecutors, who allege D4vd invited her to his residence within the Hollywood Hills and deliberately killed her on at the present time “by way of mendacity in wait.”
Singer-songwriter, David Burke aka D4vd sits in artist area at Coachella music pageant on April 18, 2025 in Indio, Calif. (AP Picture)
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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.”
Might 5, 2025
D4vd is accused of mutilating Rivas Hernandez’s stays, in keeping with the grievance. Prosecutors allege he minimize up her physique and stuffed her stays in two baggage that had been then left within the entrance trunk of his automotive for months.
Aug. 5, 2025
D4vd kicks off his “Withered” tour with a live performance in Del Mar, California.
Sept. 8, 2025
A day after what would have been her fifteenth birthday, Rivas Hernandez’s badly decomposed, dismembered stays are discovered within 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 automobile,” Los Angeles police stated. Her head and torso had been present in one bag, and her legs and arms in one other, in keeping with courtroom filings.
The Tesla had been on the impound lot for 2 days after being reported deserted on a Hollywood avenue, investigators stated.
Sept. 17, 2025
LAKE ELSINORE, CA – SEPTEMBER 25, 2025: Images, intimate notes, and flowers are among the many gadgets left at a memorial on Thursday for slain teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez who was discovered lifeless within the trunk of a Tesla in a Hollywood tow yard on September 25, 2025 in Lake Elsinore, California.
Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Occasions by way of Getty Pictures
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identifies the sufferer discovered within the automobile as Rivas Hernandez.
Sept. 19, 2025
The remaining dates of D4vd’s “Withered” tour are canceled. His file label, Darkroom/Interscope, dropped him sooner or later in 2025, a supply with data of the scenario confirmed to ABC Information.
November 2025
The primary of three secretive grand juries have a look at the case, in keeping with prosecutors. They had been investigative grand juries to assist compel testimony and to not acquire indictments.
Nov. 18, 2025
Sources affirm to ABC Information that D4vd is considered a suspect within the dying investigation.
Nov. 24, 2025
A courtroom locations a safety maintain on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report on Rivas Hernandez’s dying. In keeping with a press release from the health worker, the maintain was initiated by the Los Angeles Police Division, barring the discharge on the trigger and method of dying and the report till additional discover.
December 2025
The second grand jury appears to be like on the case, in keeping with prosecutors.
February 2026
The third grand jury appears to be like on the case, in keeping with prosecutors.
April 16, 2026
Los Angeles Police Division officers work through the arrest of David Burke, a 21-year-old musician recognized professionally as D4vd, on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, at an undisclosed location, April 16, 2026.
LAPD/Reuters
D4vd is arrested on suspicion of homicide in reference to Rivas Hernandez’s dying and is being held with out bail, Los Angeles police announce.
April 20, 2026
A mugshot of David Anthony Burke, whose stage identify is D4vd, is displayed Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles at a press convention relating to the case of D4vd, who was arrested on suspicion of killing a 14-year-old lady whose dismembered physique was present in his automotive. (AP Picture/Damian Dovarganes)
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D4vd is formally charged with homicide, steady sexual abuse and unlawfully mutilating a physique. The costs allege he dedicated “lewd and lascivious sexual acts” with Rivas Hernandez whereas she was beneath the age of 14, and that he killed her for monetary acquire “to keep up his very profitable musical profession that Celeste was threatening” to reveal, Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman says at a information convention saying the fees.
A not responsible plea is entered on D4vd’s behalf throughout his first courtroom look. His attorneys keep his innocence, saying, “The precise proof on this case will present that David Burke didn’t homicide Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the reason for her dying.”
D4vd’s mother and father additionally say they “help and stand by him a hundred percent.”
David Anthony Burke, whose stage identify is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on prices of killing a 14-year-old lady whose dismembered physique was present in his automotive. (Ted Soqui/Pool Picture by way of AP)
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April 21, 2026
The household of Rivas Hernandez speaks out following the fees, saying in a press release launched by way of their lawyer, “Celeste was a wonderful, sturdy lady who beloved to sing and dance. Each Friday evening was film evening and we spent fantastic occasions collectively.”
A makeshift Memorial for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was killed and located inside a automobile owned by singer D4vd, is positioned outdoors her residence in Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Picture/Damian Dovarganes)
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“We love her very a lot and she or he all the time advised us that she beloved us. We miss her deeply,” the assertion continued. “All we wish is justice for Celeste.”
April 22, 2026
The Los Angeles County health worker’s report is released, discovering that Rivas Hernandez died by “a number of penetrating accidents” and itemizing the way of dying as murder.
She had two penetrating wounds to her torso, together with harm to her liver, and there was proof of traumatic harm, in keeping with the report. There was extreme postmortem change to her dismembered physique based mostly on how lengthy she had been lifeless.
