In Los Angeles, United States, 21-year-old popular singer D4vd (legal name David Burke) has been charged with first-degree murder, lewd acts with a minor, and mutilation of a body. The charges stem from the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who disappeared in 2024 at age 13, with her dismembered and decomposed body discovered in September 2025 inside an abandoned Tesla registered to the singer.
Prosecutors stated that the case includes special circumstances, such as lying in wait, committing the crime for financial gain, and allegedly killing a witness (as Rivas Hernandez could have testified about sex crime allegations), making Burke eligible for life without parole or the death penalty. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said a decision on seeking the death penalty would be made later, highlighting the severity of the charges in a high-profile case.
Court documents reveal grim details: police found a cadaver bag "covered with insects and a strong odor of decay" in the Tesla, containing a head and torso, with severed arms and legs in a second bag. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, and a judge blocked the release of autopsy details, though this order is expected to be lifted following the formal charges.
Burke's lawyers pleaded not guilty on Monday, asserting that evidence would prove his innocence and that he was not responsible for Rivas Hernandez's death. The singer was arrested at a Hollywood home and is being held without bail, as the investigation, which involved a secret grand jury probe revealed earlier this year, continues to unfold.
D4vd rose to fame among Gen Z with his 2022 viral hit "Romantic Homicide" and signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records. After reports of his alleged involvement spread, he canceled the final shows of his North American tour and a subsequent European tour, casting a shadow over his burgeoning music career and raising questions about the impact of such cases on public figures in the entertainment industry.
Source: www.aljazeera.com