A rising R&B star once followed by millions is now at the center of a shocking murder investigation that has gripped Los Angeles. More than seven months after a teen girl’s decomposing body was discovered inside the trunk of a Tesla in the Hollywood Hills, police say they have arrested singer D4vd in connection with her death.

Arrest and Charges

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that David Anthony Burke, 21, known professionally as D4vd, was arrested Thursday in Los Angeles and is being held without bail.

The arrest comes after months of mounting suspicion in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose case has triggered a sprawling investigation involving forensic evidence, witness accounts and digital trails tied to the artist’s life and movements.

Grisly Discovery in Hollywood Hills

On Sept. 8, 2025, employees at Hollywood Tow reported a strong foul odor coming from a Tesla SUV that had been sitting on the lot for five days after being reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills.

Inside the vehicle, investigators later found the dismembered and decomposing body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, according to LAPD detectives.

Authorities said the body had been in the car for weeks before being discovered.

The Tesla Model Y, bearing Texas plates, was registered to Burke, a fast-rising musician with a massive online following.

The vehicle had previously been parked on Bluebird Avenue, not far from a Hollywood Hills rental home where Burke was living before it was towed.

Investigation Deepens

LAPD detectives later executed a search warrant at the rental home, seizing multiple pieces of evidence as they worked to reconstruct the timeline leading up to the teen’s death.

On Nov. 18, 2025, LAPD sources told KTLA that Burke was officially considered a suspect in Hernandez’s death.

The teen had been reported missing from Lake Elsinore in April 2024, when she was just 13 years old.

Investigators have focused heavily on the nature of her relationship with Burke, with images circulating online that appear to show the two together.

Her mother told investigators that her daughter had a boyfriend named David at the time she disappeared.

Reports also indicated the pair had matching tattoos on their right index fingers reading “Shhh.” Friends within Burke’s circle reportedly believed Hernandez was 19 years old.

Evidence and Allegations

Citing law enforcement officials, TMZ reported investigators are examining whether more than one person may have been involved in the dismemberment and disposal of the teen’s body.

"Another thing that we are told is that they know now, based on the manner in which Celeste’s body was dismembered, that investigators believe it’s very likely whoever did that to her had help," TMZ’s Charles Latibeaudiere told KTLA.

Investigators are also reviewing a late-night trip Burke allegedly made to a remote area of Santa Barbara County in spring 2025, where he reportedly stayed for several hours.

"We know that investigators are looking closely at that journey to Santa Barbara," Latibeaudiere said. "They believe it may be connected to whatever ended up happening to Celeste."

Authorities believe Celeste likely died weeks before her body was found, which occurred the day after her 15th birthday, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Career Fallout and Silence

Following the discovery of the body, Burke canceled the remainder of his U.S. and European tour dates and shelved a planned album release.

Police sources also told People magazine that Burke was allegedly “not cooperating” with investigators and had not publicly addressed the allegations or questions surrounding his connection to the teen.

Grand Jury Investigation

In February 2026, court documents revealed Burke was the target of a grand jury investigation. The filings, initially sealed, became public after his family challenged subpoenas in a Texas court that would have required them to testify before a California grand jury.

The legal pressure continued to build as investigators advanced their case behind the scenes.

Custody and Next Steps

On April 16, 2026, Burke was taken into custody at a home in the Hollywood Hills.

LAPD confirmed the case is now moving toward prosecutorial review.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is expected to receive the case on April 20 for filing consideration.

"The case is expected to be presented to the Major Crimes Division, at which point prosecutors will review the facts and evidence to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to file charges."