D4vd Faces First-Degree Murder Charges in Teen's Death
Pop singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege a prohibited sexual relationship and a threat to expose his conduct as a motive. The 21-year-old artist has pleaded not guilty, with his legal team vowing a vigorous defense.
Pop singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is facing first-degree murder charges. The 21-year-old artist, known for his 2022 hit “Romantic Homicide,” is accused of killing and dismembering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Prosecutors from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office claim Burke was involved in an illegal sexual relationship with the teenager. They allege he murdered her on April 23, 2025, after she reportedly threatened to expose his criminal conduct, which they state would have devastated his musical career. This alleged incident occurred two days before the release of D4vd’s debut album, *Withered*, which reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200.
Months following the alleged murder date, police discovered Rivas Hernandez's decomposed and dismembered body inside an impounded Tesla registered to D4vd.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His attorneys have stated their intention to “vigorously defend” him in court, asserting that “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.”
The legal proceedings have impacted D4vd's career. His headlining *Withered* tour was cut short, and a deluxe version of the album was shelved after the discovery of the body. He was subsequently dropped by Darkroom/Interscope Records, Sony Music Publishing, and The·Team.
According to Billboard, the publication is tracking developments in the ongoing legal case.
