Rapper D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has been formally charged with first-degree murder in the death of teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The indictment was announced Monday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. The 14-year-old victim’s body was found dismembered and decomposed in the front trunk of an Tesla registered to him.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez had been missing since April 2025. The last time she was seen was definitely on April 23 of that year, when she was heading to the musician’s residence in Hollywood Hills. Funcionários and neighbors at an impound park in Hollywood reported a strong odor coming from a vehicle parked there for nearly a month. The police were called and located the remains on September 8, 2025.
Acusação includes special circumstances and other sexual crimes
Prosecutors filed the charge with first-degree murder accompanied by three special circumstances. Elas involve ambush, financial gain and elimination of an investigation witness. Além In addition, D4vd is responsible for repeated and lascivious sexual acts with a person under the age of 14, in addition to mutilation of a corpse.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the indictment is based on physical, forensic and digital evidence. Ele said the material will be presented at trial to demonstrate liability beyond a reasonable doubt. The 21-year-old musician was detained last week in a house in the Hollywood Hills region, just over a kilometer from the place where the car was seized. Ele remains jailed without bail.
- Homicídio in the first degree with three special circumstances
- Atos repeated lewd sexual intercourse with minors under 14
- Mutilação of remains
The defense entered a plea of not guilty on all charges during the first hearing. The lawyers stated that their client did not commit the crime and that the evidence will show that he was not the cause of death.
Investigação lasted seven months due to the condition of the body
The delay between the death and the discovery of the body complicated the police’s work. The remains were in advanced decomposition inside a black body bag in the front trunk of Tesla. Peritos of Instituto Médico Legal of Los Angeles County identified the victim days later.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell explained that the amount of time that had passed resulted in the loss or deterioration of important evidence. Ainda thus, investigators gathered enough material to support the complaint. The car remained parked in the upscale area of Hollywood, next to a newly opened Tesla restaurant, before being removed.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a native of Riverside County, southeast of Los Angeles. Her relationship with the singer appeared in posts on social media. The teenager’s family had not yet spoken publicly about the case at the time of the accusation.
D4vd’s Carreira was impacted by the investigation
The artist gained prominence in 2022 with the song “Romantic Homicide”, which went viral on TikTok. Ele had canceled a world tour shortly after the discovery of the body in September 2025. The formal indictment now halts any pending professional activity.
Promotores indicated that the possible penalty includes life in prison without parole or even the death penalty, depending on the outcome of the trial. The case remains in the initial phase in the Los Angeles court.
Detalhes known about the victim and the vehicle
Celeste was 13 years old when she disappeared and would have turned 14 during the period she was missing. The Tesla where the remains were found belonged to D4vd and was registered at an address in the Texas linked to it. Vizinhos complained about the strong smell coming from the abandoned vehicle.
Police have not released specific details about the exact time or precise location of death. The district attorney avoided going into graphic descriptions during the press conference. Ele reinforced that the focus now is on presenting the evidence in court.
- Tesla seized after foul odor complaint
- Veículo parked for almost a month on Hollywood
- Restos located in the front trunk
- Identificação confirmed by coroner
The case attracted national attention in Estados Unidos due to the musician’s visibility on digital platforms. Autoridades highlighted the difficulty of investigating crimes with a long interval between the fact and the discovery of the remains.