Singer D4vd Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Teen Found Dismembered in His Tesla

Singer D4vd pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder charges in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered remains were found in his abandoned Tesla seven months ago. The 21-year-old musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.

Burke was arraigned in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, hours after District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced charges against him. The musician did not speak during the hearing, with his lawyers entering the plea on his behalf. He is being held without bail.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was reported missing from her home in Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles, in February 2024 when she was 13. Her dismembered and decomposed body was discovered on September 8, 2025, a day after she would have turned 15, inside cadaver bags in the front trunk of a 2023 Tesla Model Y registered to Burke's Texas address. The vehicle had been towed from an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood where it appeared abandoned.

Court documents reveal that investigators found the bags "covered with insects and a strong odor of decay." When partially unzipped, they discovered a decomposed head and torso, with severed arms and legs placed in a second bag underneath. The Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, though the cause has not been publicly released.

Hochman announced three sets of charges against Burke: first-degree murder with special circumstances of "lying in wait," murder for "financial gain," and murder of a witness to an investigation. The prosecutor alleged that Burke killed Celeste to protect his "lucrative musical career that Celeste was threatening on that particular night." Burke also faces charges for continuous lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 and mutilating human remains.

According to prosecutors, Celeste went to Burke's Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, and "was never heard from again." Evidence suggests she was a witness in an ongoing investigation into Burke's alleged sexual acts with minors. The special circumstances charges make Burke eligible for the death penalty, though the DA's office has not yet decided whether to seek it.

The Guardian focused heavily on the gruesome details of the discovery and Burke's rise to fame, emphasizing how the case had "gripped Los Angeles for more than half a year." Rolling Stone concentrated on the legal proceedings and potential penalties, highlighting that Burke could face life without parole. The Independent provided extensive background on both the victim and Burke's career trajectory, while the BBC emphasized the prosecutorial strategy and police response to criticism about the lengthy investigation.

Burke's defense team maintains his innocence, with attorney Blair Berk stating that "the actual evidence will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death." The defense has requested an expedited preliminary hearing to examine the evidence, which prosecutor Beth Silverman welcomed, saying they would be "very happy to put on the evidence that we've collected."

The case represents a dramatic fall for the Houston-born alt-pop artist who gained fame in 2022 with the viral TikTok hit "Romantic Homicide," which peaked at number 4 on Billboard's Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Burke had signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records and was touring in support of his debut album "Withered" when Celeste's body was discovered. His final tour dates were subsequently canceled.

Evidence connecting Burke to Celeste emerged months before her disappearance. In January 2024, she appeared alongside him in a Twitch livestream, where they joked together before he said "Delete everything." Photos later verified on TikTok showed Burke near Celeste's neighborhood in a black Tesla around the same time.

The investigation faced criticism for its length and secrecy. Police Chief Jim McDonnell defended the approach, stating that his "duty is not to fuel speculation" but "to deliver justice." He explained that the condition of the remains and the substantial time between death and discovery had degraded evidence, complicating the investigation. The case had been under grand jury investigation since February, with Burke's family members subpoenaed to testify in Texas court.

This story was covered by the Guardian (left-leaning, UK), Rolling Stone (left-leaning, US music), the Independent (centre-left, UK), and BBC (centre, UK public broadcaster).

The preliminary hearing date will determine how quickly the prosecution's evidence becomes public. Burke's defense team has specifically requested that the coroner's report, which has been unusually barred from public release, be shared with the court. The hearing could provide the first detailed look at the evidence that led to Burke's arrest after seven months of investigation.