dailyloe.com – Singer D4vd will be formally charged Monday in the death of a 14-year-old girl. Her remains were found in the trunk of his Tesla in Los Angeles last September. The singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested last week. She had been reported missing more than a year prior.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges. Burke will be charged with first-degree murder. Hochman spoke at a Monday press conference. He noted additional special enhancements apply to the case.
These enhancements mean Burke is facing a potential death penalty. That determination will be made at another date. Burke is also accused of lewd acts with someone under 14. He is accused of mutilating human remains.
Charges have not yet been formally filed. Burke is expected to be arraigned on Monday afternoon. District Attorney Hochman made a personal statement about the case. “I am a parent of three children,” Hochman told reporters.
“A parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back,” he said. “As we will show in a court of law.” Police found the girl on September 8. She was in the trunk of Burke’s abandoned Tesla.
The vehicle was impounded at Hollywood Tow. Officers were called to the impound lot over a foul odor. The decomposed remains were identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez. She was a runaway from Riverside.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell provided details. Detectives learned Celeste was involved in a sexual relationship with Burke. She was last known to be alive on April 23, 2025. That was when she arrived at Burke’s Hollywood Hills home.
She was found in September. Chief McDonnell commented on the investigation’s difficulty. “The substantial amount of time that passed meant crucial evidence had degraded,” McDonnell said. Detectives also had to sift through false public information.
Celeste’s cause of death was not made public. Last year, the medical examiner’s office could not release details. A security hold was sought by police. The hold prevented the release of the cause and manner of death.
