Singer D4vd was charged Monday in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose remains were found in the trunk of his Tesla in Los Angeles in September, more than a year after she was reported missing.
D4vd, the 21-year-old singer whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested last week in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers vowed to fight the allegations.
Prosecutors filed charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse, and mutilation of human remains following a news conference Monday with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
“I am a parent of three children, and a parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back,” Hochman said.
Hochman noted that prosecutors are seeking three enhancements to the murder charge: lying in wait, financial gain, and murdering a witness to an investigation.
The district attorney alleged that Burke killed Celeste in an effort to maintain his career and that Celeste was a witness to the lewd and lascivious sexual acts allegation being levied against the singer.
A criminal complaint in the case alleged that the sexual abuse of Celeste occurred “on or between” September 7, 2023, and September 7, 2024, “while the defendant resided with, and had recurring access to, the child.” Celeste would have turned 13-years-old on September 7, 2023.
The special circumstances mean Burke may face life in prison up to a potential death penalty. A determination as to whether to seek capital punishment would be made at a later date, Hochman said.
In court Monday, Burke stood with a stone-faced expression behind a glass partition, wearing a black hoodie as he entered a plea of not guilty. A judge ordered he be held without bail.
Police found Celeste on Sept. 8 in the trunk of Burke’s abandoned Tesla, which was impounded at Hollywood Tow. Officers were called to the impound lot over concerns about a foul odor emanating from the vehicle.
Her body was found a day after what would have been Celeste’s 15th birthday.
Detectives learned that Celeste, a runaway from Riverside, was involved in a sexual relationship with Burke, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
Celeste was last known to be alive on April 23, 2025, when she arrived at Burke’s Hollywood Hills home, before being found in September, the chief said.
“The substantial amount of time that passed between her death and the discovery meant that crucial evidence had degraded or disappeared, and as detectives worked to uncover the truth, they also had to sift through and debunk a great deal of false information circulating publicly,” McDonnell added.
Celeste’s cause of death was not made public. Last year, the medical examiner’s office said it couldn’t release details about the cause and manner of her death because of a security hold sought by police.
Burke is accused of using a “deadly and dangerous weapon, to wit, Sharp Instrument” in the murder, according to the criminal complaint.
Hochman told reporters Monday that his office intends to seek an order that would allow the medical examiner’s office to release the report into the teen’s death.
Celeste was reported missing in 2024 from Lake Elsinore, southeast of Los Angeles, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office previously said.
Law enforcement sources told NBC News that when she was found, her remains weren’t intact. Officials said it appeared she had been dead for an extended period before she was found given the state of her remains.
Burke was on tour at the time Celeste’s remains were discovered and canceled the rest of his performances after news about her death broke.
A court filing in February showed that Burke was the target of a grand jury investigation, saying Celeste “may have been the victim of foul play.” Both his parents, Colleen and Dawud Burke, were ordered to appear Feb. 11 before a Los Angeles County grand jury, according to court documents.
David Burke’s attorneys, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, said they were prepared to “vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
“Let us be clear – the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death,” statement said.
Attorneys for Burke requested an open preliminary hearing, saying they have received little to no discovery ahead of the arraignment on Monday. His defense added that it would like to see transcripts from the grand jury proceedings.
The prosecution noted that a release of information from the grand jury required a motion to the court. There is more than 40 terabytes of discovery for the district attorney’s office to work through, the prosecution said.
A court date has been set for Thursday.
