LOS ANGELES (AP) — D4vd, an alternative pop artist, is facing charges after prosecutors in Los Angeles County reported that the decomposed body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was discovered in a Tesla. This vehicle is believed to have been left abandoned seven months prior, and it is alleged that she was sexually abused, murdered, and mutilated.
These troubling claims trace back to 2023, shortly after D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, made waves with his debut single reaching the Billboard Hot 100. Now 21, he has entered a plea of not guilty, with his lawyer asserting he did not cause her death.
To understand the situation better, it helps to look at the timeline of events surrounding the investigation, the allegations, and Burke’s rise to fame.
2022: The rapid rise of Burke’s music
Burke started out creating tracks for his online video game content, and his song “Romantic Homicide” gained significant traction on TikTok. The track eventually climbed to number four on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. This led to contracts with Darkroom Records and Interscope Records.
November 2023: Allegations of abuse arise
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Burke allegedly sexually abused Rivas Hernandez, who was identified as a runaway and reportedly lived with him in Los Angeles.
February 17, 2024: First contact with Burke by investigators
Rivas-Hernandez had been reported missing multiple times from her home in Lake Elsinore, located about 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Riverside County authorities reached out to Burke during one of her disappearances. He claimed he wasn’t aware of her age and said their last conversation was a few days prior. When deputies searched his residence, Rivas-Hernandez reportedly identified herself as 13.
She returned home two days later; her parents confiscated her phone afterward. Prosecutors allege Burke paid a classmate of Rivas-Hernandez $1,000 and provided him a phone to communicate with her.
April 5, 2024: Rivas Hernandez reported missing again
The family of Rivas-Hernandez made the last report about her disappearance from Lake Elsinore.
Following that, she allegedly spent considerable time with Burke, traveling to Las Vegas, London, and Texas to visit family.
November 2024: Their relationship reportedly ends
Burke and Rivas-Hernandez had supposedly “broken up” but maintained contact. At some point, she returned to her Lake Elsinore home.
April 11, 2025: Burke performs at Coachella
During his Coachella debut, Burke unintentionally drew attention for a failed backflip, and later spoke about how fan feedback influenced his set list. “I’m my fan and my fan is me, and we work in tandem,” he remarked.
April 22, 2025: A text argument between Rivas Hernandez and Burke
Prosecutors indicated that text messages uncovered jealousy on Rivas-Hernandez’s part regarding Burke’s relationship with another woman.
April 23, 2025: Last sighting of Rivas Hernandez
Prosecutors believe Burke stabbed Rivas-Hernandez to death on or about this date, which was the last day she was known to be alive. The motive, they suggest, was her threat to expose their alleged inappropriate relationship, which could jeopardize his career.
On the evening of April 23, Burke sent for a rideshare service to take Rivas-Hernandez from his residence to his home in the Hollywood Hills.
At around 10:30 p.m., Burke began texting Rivas-Hernandez about where he could conceal her body.
By 11:30 p.m., he texted again, seeking her whereabouts, and then left his home for a secluded area in Santa Barbara County.
April 24, 2025: Burke orders a shovel through an app
Prosecutors stated that he utilized a mail delivery app to have the shovel sent to his home.
April 25, 2025: Release of Burke’s debut album “Wizard”
Burke launched his first album, “Wizard,” and in various social media and media interviews, he discussed a character he created known as “IT4MI,” derived from the Japanese word for pain, “Itami.” He describes this character as a more sinister version of himself and his videos often feature bloodied subjects.
May 1, 2025: Further tools acquired
Prosecutors noted that he had two chainsaws delivered under aliases.
May 5, 2025: Rivas Hernandez’s remains are said to have been dismembered
Among the charges against Burke is “unlawful mutilation of a corpse.” He is accused of dismembering Rivas-Hernandez in his garage’s inflatable pool, where DNA matching hers was subsequently found.
Burke reportedly revisited the Santa Barbara location multiple times, with Rivas-Hernandez’s passport being discovered there in January 2026, per prosecutors.
They allege he concealed her remains in the front trunk of the Tesla, misleading those who noticed the foul smell around his home and vehicle.
In late July, prior to his tour, Burke parked the car near his home.
August 5, 2025: Burke’s tour kicks off
His tour, backing the “Wizard” album, began in Del Mar, California. He also released “Locked and Loaded,” the official anthem for Fortnite, on September 3.
September 8, 2025: Discovery of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body
One day before Rivas-Hernandez’s 15th birthday, a severely decomposed body was found. It was identified as her remains in a body bag within the trunk of Burke’s Tesla, which had ostensibly been abandoned after being towed from a high-end neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills. Upon searching the vehicle, authorities found her head and torso in one bag and her limbs in another.
September 17, 2025: Search of Burke’s home
Law enforcement discovered blood evidence at Burke’s residence that matched Rivas-Hernandez’s DNA, along with an inflatable pool believed to have been used in the mutilation, which bore multiple cuts, according to legal documents.
September 19, 2025: Cancellation of remaining tour dates
Burke’s remaining tour dates, set to conclude in Warsaw, Poland, on November 4, were canceled, and reports confirmed his termination from Interscope Records at some point in 2025.
October 6, 2025: Funeral for Rivas Hernandez
Several sources reported that her family held the funeral at Queen of Heaven Cemetery and Mortuary in Rowland Heights, California.
November 24, 2025: Coroner’s report withheld
In an unusual action, authorities prevented the release of the coroner’s report concerning Rivas-Hernandez’s death, citing a confidentiality order from the LAPD that prohibits the disclosure of any records until further notice.
February 2026: Grand jury investigation of Burke disclosed
The grand jury proceedings were conducted in secrecy in line with protocols, but some information was subsequently released. Court filings disclosed that Burke’s family contested a subpoena in Texas, claiming he might be implicated in several crimes, including murder.
April 16, 2026: Burke’s arrest
Burke was taken into custody without bail on murder suspicions related to Rivas-Hernandez’s case, as announced via social media by the LAPD, showcasing officers in tactical gear advancing toward a home.
April 20, 2025: Formal charges against Burke
Burke faced formal charges for murder, lewd acts on a minor, and the dismemberment of a corpse. The indictment outlined circumstances that could lead to increased penalties if he’s convicted, including allegations of ambushing Rivas-Hernandez and murdering her to gain financially.
