D4vd Arrested on Murder Charges in Teen's Death
US singer D4vd has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenage girl who went missing last year, police say.
The star, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, was the target of a grand jury investigation into the apparent murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found in his Tesla in September.
The Los Angeles Police Department said on Thursday that the 21-year-old was being held without bail and the case will be presented to the District Attorney's office on Monday.
In a statement to US media, Burke's lawyers asserted, Let us be clear - 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.
They added: There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion.
Police earlier stated they had arrested Burke for the murder of Celeste Rivas.
Questions had been mounting since the discovery on 8 September of the 14-year-old's remains in a Hollywood tow yard, after authorities received reports of a foul odour emanating from the vehicle.
Investigators found her decomposed head and torso in a cadaver bag in the front boot of a Tesla car registered to D4vd's address in Texas, according to court documents.
The county's medical examiner reported that the body was severely decomposed and deferred any ruling on how she died, pending the death investigation. Officials indicated she may have been dead for several weeks before her body was discovered.
No cause of death has been announced, with authorities treating this as a death investigation.
A judge had ordered the records of the teen's death to be sealed, ensuring officers received timely information from the medical examiner.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, identified as a missing person from April 2024, was found approximately 75 miles from her home, known to frequently visit local stores. The circumstances surrounding her death have sparked widespread speculation online regarding her connection to D4vd.
Burke's arrest is the first major development in the case, following months of investigation and the ongoing grand jury proceedings.
The singer has kept a low profile since the incident, previously canceling his world tour. Police had earlier raided the Hollywood mansion where he was living shortly after Hernandez's body was found.
The situation continues to evolve, with both police and Burke's representatives remaining in communication as the investigation unfolds.
