Authorities have officially charged David Anthony Burke, better known to fans as d4vd, with first-degree murder in connection to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors are also hitting him with charges of sex abuse and corpse mutilation. If convicted, he could be facing life behind bars, or even the death penalty.
As previously reported, the 21-year-old artist was taken into custody Thursday in the Hollywood Hills. Investigators say this arrest comes months after a deeply disturbing discovery: Celeste’s remains were found back on September 8, hidden inside the front trunk of a Tesla sitting in a Los Angeles tow yard. That vehicle? Reportedly tied to d4vd.
Up until now, things were moving real quiet. Law enforcement hadn’t publicly named him as a suspect, but behind the scenes, court documents showed he was already being looked at as a “target” in a grand jury investigation into who may have been “involved” in the teen’s death. His legal team, though, is standing firm, saying he’s innocent.
Celeste’s family is also set to address the public through their attorney, and you already know that’s going to be emotional.
What makes this story hit even harder is who d4vd is to a lot of young fans. He blew up fast, especially with Gen-Z, mixing indie rock, R&B, and that lo-fi vibe everybody’s been rocking with lately. His track Romantic Homicide went viral on TikTok back in 2022 and climbed all the way to No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
From viral success to facing the most serious charges possible, it’s a wild and tragic turn. This story is still developing. Stay tuned.