Rising music artist David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of a teenage girl whose body was discovered last year in the trunk of his impounded Tesla, authorities said.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Burke, 21, is being held without bail following his arrest in the Hollywood Hills on a probable cause warrant. The case is expected to be presented Monday to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether formal charges should be filed.
In a statement, prosecutors said they are reviewing “facts and evidence to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to file charges,” adding that no decision has yet been made.
Burke’s legal team, including attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, denied the allegations. “The 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,” they said, emphasizing that no indictment or criminal complaint has been filed.
The case centers on the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found on Sept. 8, 2025, inside a Tesla registered to Burke. The vehicle had been impounded after being reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for nearly a month. Police responded after reports of a foul odor.
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Authorities believe the teen had been dead for several weeks before discovery. Her cause and manner of death remain undetermined, with autopsy findings sealed due to the ongoing homicide investigation.
The victim, who had just turned 15, had previously been reported missing multiple times in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, according to law enforcement records cited by Los Angeles Times. Investigators have not confirmed any direct connection between Burke and the teen.
The case has drawn intense scrutiny since Burke was first identified as a suspect in November 2025 and later became the focus of a grand jury probe. Law enforcement sources have alleged the possibility of foul play and suggested the perpetrator may not have acted alone, though those claims remain unproven.
During the investigation, detectives executed search warrants at properties linked to Burke and seized electronic devices and other materials. His level of cooperation has been disputed, with police sources alleging limited engagement, while his representatives previously stated he was fully cooperating.
As prosecutors weigh potential charges, the case continues to raise questions about the circumstances leading to the teen’s death and how her body remained undiscovered for weeks in an impounded vehicle.
Officials said further updates are expected following Monday’s filing review.
