American Musician D4vd Arrested in Connection with Murder of 14-Year-Old Girl

American singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department on April 16, 2026, on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose decomposed remains were found in September 2025 in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to him. Burke, 21, is being held without bail, and the case will be presented to the District Attorney's Office on Monday, April 20, according to an LAPD statement posted on X. Rivas had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore, California, on April 5, 2024, when she was 13 years old. Her remains were discovered on September 8, 2025, one day after what would have been her 15th birthday. The vehicle had been parked in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood for weeks before being towed to a municipal impound lot, where workers reported a foul odor emanating from the car. Investigators found the head and torso of the girl, already in a state of severe decomposition, inside a body bag located in the front trunk of the Tesla, according to court documents cited by the BBC.

Body sat in abandoned car for weeks before discovery The circumstances surrounding the discovery of Rivas's remains drew significant public attention in the months following September 2025. According to police, the Tesla had remained parked on a public street for weeks — with some neighbors reporting it had been there for close to a month — before authorities towed it to Hollywood Tow, an impound facility. Burke had never reported the vehicle stolen during that period, according to reporting by El País. The county medical examiner noted a state of severe decomposition and postponed determination of the cause of death pending the conclusion of forensic investigation. A judge ordered in November 2025 that records relating to the teenager's death be sealed, to ensure police received information from the medical examiner before it became public. A grand jury began hearing evidence in the case in December 2025, but Burke's arrest on April 16 marked the first significant development in the investigation in several months, according to the BBC. Police also stated they believe multiple people were involved in the murder, according to Vulture.

Family fought subpoenas in Texas court months before arrest Details of the investigation became partially public on February 25, 2026, when Burke's mother, father, and brother filed an objection in a Texas court against subpoenas requiring them to testify in the case, according to Die Welt. Burke's attorney, Blair Berk, had largely declined public comment throughout the investigation. Prior to the arrest, Berk stated there was no publicly disclosed evidence linking her client to a crime and emphasized his rights during an active investigation. Burke's representatives had previously told media that he was cooperating with authorities, according to the BBC. The LAPD's statement on X did not specify the evidence that led to the arrest. The case will now move to prosecutors, who will determine whether formal charges are filed.

„Detectives from Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division have arrested David Burke, a 21-year-old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas.” — Los Angeles Police Department via Reuters

D4vd rose to fame on TikTok before Fortnite anthem deal Burke gained widespread recognition in 2022 after songs he recorded on his phone for Fortnite gaming videos went viral on TikTok, with the hit "Romantic Homicide" helping him sign a deal with Darkroom/Interscope Records, a label associated with Billie Eilish, according to Reuters. His album "Withered" reached number 13 on the Billboard chart and accumulated over 520 (million streams on Spotify) — D4vd's album Withered streaming total, according to El País. Burke had been on tour in August and early September 2025 to promote the album, performing in Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, and Indianapolis, before the remaining concerts were canceled approximately 10 days after the body was discovered. A European tour, scheduled to begin in Norway in October 2025, was also scrapped. Fashion brands Hollister and Crocs announced they were canceling their collaborations with the musician shortly after the discovery of the body in his Tesla became public. Burke had also collaborated with musicians including Kali Uchis, Laufey, and 21 Savage, according to Deutsche Welle.

Celeste Rivas was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, a city in Riverside County approximately 110 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles, on April 5, 2024, at the age of 13. Her family had shared that she had a boyfriend named David, according to Vulture. Her remains were not discovered until September 8, 2025, meaning she had been missing for approximately 17 months before her body was found. The investigation into her death was initially classified as a death inquiry rather than a homicide, as authorities had not publicly determined a cause of death for months following the discovery.