Prosecutors say D4vd killed a 14-year-old girl to protect his career, and the timeline of what allegedly happened is devastating

Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, pleaded not guilty on Monday, April 20, 2026, to a murder charge in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The case, which had been under a largely secret investigation for months, became public with the filing of formal charges.

As first highlighted by the Associated Press, prosecutors in Los Angeles allege that the 21-year-old alt-pop singer killed Hernandez to protect his rising music career after she threatened to expose their sexual relationship. Burke appeared behind glass in a custody area during his initial court appearance, dressed in black, while his defense lawyer entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to all counts.

Burke was charged with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14, and mutilating a body. The judge ordered that he continue to be held without bail. The charges carry special circumstances including lying in wait, committing the crime for financial gain, and murdering a witness, Hernandez herself, who could have testified about the alleged sex crime allegations. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek the death penalty.

The alleged motive ties directly to Burke’s career trajectory

Hernandez was reported missing from her hometown of Lake Elsinore, California, in 2024, when she was 13 years old. Her brother Matthew Rivas said that when she disappeared on April 5, 2024, she had been on her way to see a movie with Burke, and their family was aware of her connection to the singer. The criminal complaint alleges that Burke engaged in continuous sexual abuse of Hernandez for at least a year, from September 2023 to September 2024.

Authorities say Hernandez was killed with a sharp object on or around April 23, 2025, a day after she was reportedly at Burke’s Hollywood Hills home. Prosecutors further allege that Burke mutilated her body approximately two weeks after the killing. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the alleged motive plainly: “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.”

Hernandez’s remains were discovered on September 8, 2025, a day after she would have turned 15. Tow yard workers at Hollywood Tow noticed a strong odor coming from a Tesla that had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for about a month and alerted law enforcement. Officers opened the front trunk and found human remains inside bags, including a decomposed head and torso, with arms and legs severed from the body. The Tesla was registered in Burke’s name.

Burke’s representatives initially stated on September 9, 2025, that he was cooperating with law enforcement, though an LAPD source told investigators on November 18, 2025, that he had not been cooperative. At the time the body was found, Burke was on tour supporting his debut album “Withered” and had performed in Minneapolis that same night. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner sealed information about the case, including cause and manner of death, on November 21, 2025, at the request of police, with that order expected to be lifted after charges were filed.

Burke had gained a wide following among Gen Z after his song “Romantic Homicide” went viral on TikTok in 2022, peaking at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart. He subsequently signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records. The Associated Press confirmed he was dropped by Interscope last year, and when reports of his involvement in the case spread, he canceled the final two shows of his North American tour and an upcoming European tour. Just two weeks before the alleged killing, he made his debut appearance at Coachella on April 11, 2025. Amid a wave of high-profile murder cases tied to financial motive in Los Angeles this year, the D4vd case has drawn particular attention given the victim’s age and the accused’s public profile.

Burke’s lead defense attorney Blair Berk stated in court, “We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.” Berk requested a public preliminary hearing as soon as possible, citing months of secret grand jury proceedings. Under California law, Burke is entitled to an evidentiary hearing within 10 court days of arraignment, and he did not waive that right. The Los Angeles DA’s office, which has recently escalated murder charges in several high-profile cases this year, responded through lead prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman: “We’ll be very happy to put on the evidence that we’ve collected.” A hearing to determine next steps was scheduled for Thursday.