Seven months after finding 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in the back of singer D4VD’s Tesla in an Anaheim, California, impound lot. He was arrested on April 15, 2026, in connection with her death. Her remains were found in two trash bags in the singer’s car. This comes after only being listed as a suspect in the case.
D4VD, whose real name is David Burke, was 20 years old at the time of her death and was known to have had contact with her since 2022. She had joined his Discord server and was referred to as “D4VD’s girlfriend” by other users in the server.
However, the two did not officially meet until 2024, which is when her irregular appearances began. The last time Hernandez was seen by her family was April 5, 2024, and the last reported time she was seen was April 23, 2025, after being invited to Burke’s Hollywood Hills home. She was not seen again until she was found on Sept. 8, 2025, in Burke’s Tesla.
Burke was charged in Hernandez’s death on April 20, 2026, along with “continued lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14 years old and mutilating the remains of a human body.” Authorities said the delay in the arrest came so late was due to the condition of Hernandez’s remains when they were discovered.
Officials said “extensive postmortem changes” contributed to the delay in the autopsy report. However, after additional testing, the medical examiner’s office reported that Hernandez died from “two penetrating wounds to the torso,” indicating injuries to the liver and chest.
Despite the charges, Burke maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty at his preliminary hearing.
