{"id":10366,"date":"2026-04-21T09:53:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T09:53:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatrustedlawyers.com\/blog\/d4vd-charged-with-first-degree-murder-of-celeste-rivas-hernandez\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T09:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T09:53:40","slug":"d4vd-charged-with-first-degree-murder-of-celeste-rivas-hernandez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatrustedlawyers.com\/blog\/d4vd-charged-with-first-degree-murder-of-celeste-rivas-hernandez\/","title":{"rendered":"D4vd Charged With First Degree Murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\tD4vd has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in an alleged plot to shield his burgeoning music career after she threatened to expose their underage sexual relationship.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tLos Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman<\/strong> revealed the charges on Monday (April 20), four days after the 21-year-old \u201cRomantic Homicide\u201d singer (David Anthony Burke) was arrested. Hochman said the \u201cbrutal and horrific murder\u201d occurred on April 23, 2025 \u2014 just two days before the release of D4vd\u2019s debut album, Withered<\/em>, which opened at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\u201cCeleste, a 14-year-old at that time, went to Mr. Burke\u2019s house in the Hollywood Hills,\u201d said Hochman during a press conference. \u201cShe was never heard from again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHochman\u2019s office alleged in a press release that D4vd killed Rivas with a \u201csharp instrument.\u201d Prosecutors also laid out what they believe to be the motive: They claim Rivas was threatening to reveal how D4vd, who was 20 years old at the time, had illegally engaged in sex acts with her as a minor.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWhen she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car,\u201d said Hochman in the press release. \u201cThis horrific and gruesome murder committed by the charged sexual predator is shocking and appalling. To Celeste\u2019s loved ones, we will get the justice you seek and deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe decomposed, partial remains of Rivas, a reported runaway from Lake Elsinore, Calif., were found in the front trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to D4vd in September. After police responded to reports of a \u201cfoul odor\u201d coming from the car in a Hollywood tow lot, they discovered two black bags containing severed, decomposed body parts that were later identified as Rivas \u2014 including a head, torso and limbs.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn addition to first-degree murder, D4vd is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child under age 14 and mutilating a body. His murder charge also has a \u201cspecial circumstances\u201d enhancement, which makes the maximum sentence death or life in prison without parole. Hochman said his office has not yet determined whether to seek the death penalty.<\/p>\n

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\n\tD4vd is being held in custody without bail. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Monday afternoon, according to the Associated Press<\/a><\/em>. His attorney, Blair Berk<\/strong>, requested that the court hold an evidentiary hearing as soon as possible to evaluate the sufficiency of the charges.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez,\u201d Berk told a judge during Monday\u2019s hearing. In a statement last week, Berk said she and her co-counsel \u201cwill vigorously defend David\u2019s innocence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tA follow-up hearing is set for this Thursday (April 23), per NBC News<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n\tD4vd\u2019s career took off in 2022 after his first single, \u201cRomantic Homicide,\u201d went viral on TikTok and eventually hit No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. He released Withered <\/em>after two EPs and an opening slot on SZA\u2019s blockbuster SOS<\/em> tour in 2023.<\/p>\n

\n\tHe had been in the midst of a headlining tour when Rivas\u2019 body was discovered in his car. The tour was cut short, and a deluxe version of Withered<\/em> was shelved. He\u2019s since been dropped by Darkroom\/Interscope Records, Sony Music Publishing and The\u00b7Team (formerly Wasserman).<\/p>\n

\n\tThis story was updated on April 20 at 5:55 p.m. ET to add details from D4vd\u2019s arraignment.<\/em><\/p>\n


\"Billboard
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