D4vd Faces Murder Charges: A Timeline of the Case
A detailed look at the legal developments surrounding D4vd, the pop singer accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
D4vd, the 21-year-old singer known for his 2022 hit “Romantic Homicide,” is currently facing first-degree murder charges. He is accused of killing and dismembering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. According to prosecutors, David Anthony Burke (D4vd's given name) had an illegal sexual relationship with the teenager and murdered her to prevent her from exposing his crimes and ruining his music career.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office alleges the murder took place on April 23, 2025, just before the release of D4vd’s debut album, Withered, which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200. Months later, police discovered Rivas’ remains in an impounded Tesla registered to D4vd.
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D4vd has pleaded not guilty, and his legal team asserts they will “vigorously defend” him in court. His lawyers stated that the evidence will demonstrate David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The case has already significantly impacted D4vd’s career. His Withered tour was cut short, and a deluxe version of the album was shelved. He was subsequently dropped by Darkroom/Interscope Records, Sony Music Publishing, and The·Team.
Billboard is providing a timeline of D4vd’s legal case, with updates as developments occur. For more on his music career, see our separate story.
Key Dates in the Case:
- Sept. 8, 2025: Rivas’ body was discovered in D4vd’s Tesla in a Hollywood tow lot. Police found bags containing a severed head, torso, and limbs.
- Sept. 17, 2025: Authorities identified the remains as belonging to Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a runaway who had been missing from Lake Elsinore, Calif., since 2024.
- Nov. 26, 2025: Reports emerged that D4vd was a suspect in the LAPD’s investigation. The Los Angeles Times reported that the district attorney had empaneled an investigative grand jury.
- Feb. 25, 2026: Court documents revealed D4vd was officially the target of a murder investigation. His family members sought to avoid testifying before the grand jury.
- April 16, 2026: D4vd was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of murder and held without bail.
- April 20, 2026: DA Nathan Hochman formally charged D4vd with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and mutilating a body. The charges could lead to life in prison or the death penalty.
- April 22, 2026: The Medical Examiner released its report, concluding Rivas died from "two penetrating wounds of the torso."
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