Singer D4vd Pleads Not Guilty to Murder Charges in Death of 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
The music world has been rocked by a deeply disturbing legal case as singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The 21-year-old artist faces multiple serious allegations in what prosecutors describe as a "brutal and horrific" crime that has captured national attention.
Charges and Allegations in the Case
Los Angeles prosecutors have formally charged Burke with the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, along with additional charges of lewd acts involving a minor under 14 and mutilating a body. Authorities allege the singer was involved in a sexual relationship with the teenager prior to her death. The district attorney's office has indicated the case could qualify for the death penalty due to "special circumstances" including allegations of murder for financial gain and murder of a potential witness.
Celeste's remains were discovered in September inside a vehicle registered to Burke after police responded to reports of a foul odor coming from a car in an impound lot. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, complicating forensic efforts to determine the exact cause of death, which remains under investigation.
Who Is D4vd?
David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, represents a modern success story of digital fame. Born in 2005 and raised between Queens, New York, and Houston, Texas, the singer-songwriter first turned to music as a solution to copyright issues with his Fortnite video montages on YouTube. At his mother's urging, he began writing original songs, leading to viral success on TikTok in 2022 with tracks "Romantic Homicide" and "Here with Me," each accumulating over a billion streams on Spotify.
By 2023, D4vd had signed with major label Darkroom/Interscope, released two EPs, performed at Coachella, and established himself as an experimental voice in indie-pop and R&B. His song "Locked & Loaded" became the official anthem of Fortnite, and he released his debut album "Withered" in April 2025. At the time the murder allegations emerged, D4vd had 34.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and nearly 4 million TikTok followers.
The Victim: Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a 14-year-old girl from Lake Elsinore who had been missing for months before her death became the center of a major homicide investigation. She was last seen in April 2024 when she was 13 years old, telling her family she was going to watch a movie but never returning home.
When discovered, Celeste was described as having wavy black hair, standing 5 feet 2 inches tall, and weighing 120 pounds. She was wearing a tube top, black leggings, a yellow metal bracelet, and metal stud earrings, with a tattoo on her right index finger reading "Shhh..." Her mother told TMZ that her daughter had a boyfriend named Dave before her disappearance.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Following his arrest, Burke entered a plea of not guilty, and his legal team has stated they intend to "vigorously defend" him as the case moves forward. The court has ordered the coroner's report on Celeste's death, which has been barred from public release.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the case as "a parent's nightmare" during a press conference announcing the charges. The Rivas Hernandez family released a statement saying they are "committed to ensuring that Celeste's voice is heard and her memory is honored throughout this process."
The case will now proceed through pre-trial hearings where evidence and legal arguments will be examined. A trial date has not yet been confirmed. Los Angeles police have acknowledged the investigation's complexity, noting that delays resulted from the condition in which Celeste was found and the time elapsed before her discovery, which impacted forensic evidence availability.
As proceedings continue, more details are expected to emerge about the timeline of events leading up to Celeste's death and the evidence that will ultimately be presented in court. The case represents a stark contrast to D4vd's rapid rise to fame, highlighting potential dark sides of overnight celebrity in the digital age.
