Singer D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Singer D4vd, real name David Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in his abandoned Tesla in September.
- Prosecutors allege Burke sexually abused the girl for a year and killed her around April 23, 2025, with charges including special circumstances that could lead to the death penalty.
- Burke’s attorneys deny the murder allegations, asserting he did not cause Rivas Hernandez’s death, while the investigation remains ongoing and details of the autopsy are under court order.
- The victim was reported missing in 2024, and her body was discovered in a Tesla registered to Burke, who was under a secret grand jury investigation prior to his arrest.
- D4vd, a Houston-born alt-pop singer known for viral hits and signed to Interscope Records until last year, canceled tours following the discovery and allegations.
