Singer D4vd charged in murder of 14-year-old girl

LOS ANGELES (CN) — After months of investigation, authorities in Los Angeles County on Monday charged the singer known as D4vd in the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found decomposed and dismembered in the trunk of his Tesla in September 2025.

The 21-year-old musician, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, faces one count each of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The criminal complaint includes special allegations, which can be used to increase a sentence — that Hernandez was murdered because she was witness, that the murder was for financial gain, that Burke was "lying in wait" before the killing and that a dangerous weapon was used to commit the crime.

"Celeste was just a child, under 14 years old, when David Burke allegedly engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations with her," LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a written statement. "But Burke's actions did not allegedly stop there. When 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. There the dismembered body sat for over four months decomposing until it was found at a tow yard."

If convicted, Burke, could face life in state prison without the possibility of parole or even the death penalty, though California hasn't carried out an execution since 2006. Prosecutors will decide whether or not to seek the death penalty at a later day.

Burke rose to prominence as a "Fortnite artist," creating montages of himself playing the popular online video game and posting them to YouTube, complete with music he produced himself. He was eventually contracted to write music for video games, and one of his tracks became the official Fortnite anthem. In 2022, he released two singles, both of which went multiplatinum. His debut album, "Withered," was released in 2025, the tour for which was abruptly canceled following the discovery of Hernandez's remains on Sept. 8 — a day before her 15th birthday.

It was long suspected that D4vd was responsible for the murder, since the Tesla she was found in was registered to him. But the investigation dragged on for months, in part because of the poor condition of Hernandez's remains.

Hernandez, who is from Lake Elsinore, a small city about 70 miles southeast of LA had been missing since 2024. LAPD chief Jim McDonnell said Monday she had "been involved in a sexual relationship with Mr. Burke when she was a minor and he was an adult." He added the case is "extraordinarily difficult and complex."

According to the criminal complaint, Burke invited Hernandez to his home in Hollywood Hills on April 23. The girl was never seen or heard from again. Months later, police were called to a tow yard to investigate a foul odor and discovered the remains which, more than a week later, they determined to be Hernandez.