US alt-pop singer D4vd has been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on suspicion of murder in connection with a missing 14-year-old girl, according to international reports.
Authorities identified the suspect as 21-year-old David Anthony Burke, who performs under the stage name D4vd. He was detained on April 16 following an investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Rivas was reported missing by her family in April 2024. Her remains were later discovered on September 8, 2025, after workers detected a strong odour coming from an abandoned vehicle that had been left in a tow yard in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.
Investigators said the decomposed remains, believed to include the girl’s head and torso, were found inside a bag placed in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke in Texas. A medical examiner described the body as severely decomposed, suggesting she may have been dead for several weeks before discovery.
The circumstances surrounding her death, as well as how her body ended up inside the vehicle, remain unclear as investigations continue. Police also previously carried out a search at a property linked to Burke in Hollywood Hills, located near where the vehicle was towed.
Court developments in the case have included a judge sealing key death records in November 2025 to allow investigators to gather evidence from medical examiners without public interference. A grand jury began reviewing evidence in December 2025.
Burke’s legal team has denied the allegations, stating that he did not murder Rivas and is not responsible for her death. They added that no formal indictment has been issued and that he is currently being held on suspicion while they prepare to defend him.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is expected to review the case, with prosecutors set to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with formal charges. LAPD has confirmed that Burke is being held without bail as the investigation continues.
