D4vd Charged with Murder, Continuous Sexual Abuse, and Unlawful Mutilation of a Body

Singer D4vd has been charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

The charges were announced by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on April 20, 2026, following an investigation into the discovery of the girl’s remains in September 2025. Her dismembered and decomposed body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to the musician and abandoned in the Hollywood Hills.

Prosecutors allege that during the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the singer’s phone and iCloud storage, where they discovered a significant amount of child sexual abuse material. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office stated that the images were found on the iCloud account of David Anthony Burke, the 21-year-old musician known professionally as D4vd.

Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His legal team maintains that he did not cause the girl’s death and asserts that evidence will show he was not responsible for her killing.

The case, which had remained relatively quiet for months after the initial discovery of the remains, has seen significant developments since Burke’s arrest last week. In addition to the murder charge, he faces counts of continuous sexual abuse of a minor and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

According to court proceedings, prosecutor Beth Silverman presented evidence during Burke’s arraignment, detailing how the child sexual abuse material was uncovered during the digital search conducted as part of the homicide investigation.

The Los Angeles Times first reported the discovery of the images on Burke’s iCloud account, which prosecutors described as a key element in building their case against the singer.

As of the latest updates, Burke remains in custody awaiting trial. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office continues to pursue the case, emphasizing the severity of the charges related to both the alleged murder and the exploitation of a minor.