The D4vd singer could face the death penalty after being charged Monday with first-degree murder by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office in connection with the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was discovered inside an abandoned Tesla in the Hollywood Hills last year.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference Monday that the 21-year-old singer, whose real name is David Burke, faces a first-degree murder charge with special circumstances, including waiting; Committing the crime for financial gain; A witness was killed. He was also charged with a second count of lewd acts with a child, as well as dismembering the 15-year-old girl’s body.
“These charges include the most serious charges that the District Attorney’s Office can bring,” Hochman said.
In September, a severely decomposed body was discovered at a Los Angeles lockup inside a car registered to Burke in Hempstead, Texas. Police said the remains were placed inside a bag in the front trunk of the Tesla.
The dismembered body was later identified as the missing Inland Empire teen. A decomposed head and torso were found in a body bag inside the Tesla, according to court documents; Additional dismembered body parts were discovered in a second bag inside the car.
Rivas had been missing since April 24, 2024, approximately 18 months before her remains were discovered at Hollywood TOW on September 8. She was identified after the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner noticed a tattoo on her right ring finger that read “Shhh…”, prompting her mother to call the office.
Burke was named as a suspect by Los Angeles homicide detectives in November. He was arrested in Hollywood on Thursday on a probable cause warrant and is being held without bail. It remains unclear whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
“The decision on whether or not the district attorney’s office will seek the death penalty will be made at a later date,” Hochman said.
Hollywood Reporter He was unable to reach Berk’s attorney at Berk Brettler LLP on Monday. Last week, after his arrest, the singer’s lawyers said in a statement that they would “vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
Burke was in the middle of a series of d4vd dates Withered 2025 World Tour When Hernandez’s body was identified in a car registered in his name. The Seattle concert scheduled for that day was cancelled, and the remaining tour dates were quickly cancelled.
As d4vd, Burke took off on TikTok and SoundCloud in 2022, leading a meteoric rise that included opening for SZA and performing at Coachella ahead of his debut album. He has amassed over 30 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has signed with Darkroom/Interscope.
his first album, witheredreleased in April 2025, notably featured vocals that were largely recorded on an iPhone in his sister’s closet, he said. Hollywood Reporter last year.
