US musician D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a teenage girl who vanished last year, officials say.
The star, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposing remains were found in September in a Tesla registered to his Texas address.
Burke, 21, also was charged with murder for financial gain and with murder of a witness to an investigation, the Los Angeles district attorney said.
In a statement after his arrest last week, his lawyers asserted that 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 Los Angeles County DA's office confirmed that D4vd is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in downtown Los Angeles and cannot comment on grand jury investigations.
During a press conference on Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed that on April 23, 2025, Rivas Hernandez went to Burke's house in the Hollywood Hills and she was never heard from again.
Her dismembered and decomposed remains were found on September 8, 2025, igniting a significant investigation.
A parent's nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back, said Hochman.
The charges against the singer are serious, involving special circumstances of lying in wait and murder for financial gain. Hochman suggests that Burke may have killed the girl to preserve his lucrative musical career, which she allegedly threatened during her visit.
The third charge involves murder of a witness, indicating Rivas Hernandez was known to be a witness in a prior investigation involving Burke.
The DA's office hinted at potentially seeking the death penalty as the case unfolds.
Burke remains in custody without bail following his arrest, and he was on tour when the remains were discovered. The investigation's status remains delicate, with officials emphasizing the importance of gathering extensive evidence and providing justice for Rivas Hernandez.
All parties are now awaiting the next steps in a case that has captured public attention and raised significant questions about accountability and the handling of sensitive investigations.
