D4vd’s Lawyers Deny He Was “Cause” of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Death

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D4vd’s lawyers are speaking out.

Following the arrest of singer David Anthony Burke for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez by the Los Angeles Police Department, his legal team stated he did not commit the crime. Burke was accused of killing the 15-year-old.

In a statement to People magazine on April 17th, David Burke’s lawyers – Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter – stated clearly that evidence will demonstrate Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and was not responsible for her death.

So far, no grand jury has issued an indictment and no criminal charges have been filed. David is currently being held only as a suspect, and we are fully prepared to prove his innocence.

D4vd is currently being held without bail, according to the LAPD.

TopMob News has reached out to reps for D4vd but has not heard back yet.

The 21-year-old was arrested just weeks after being identified as a person of interest in the murder investigation of Rivas Hernandez. Court documents obtained by TopMob News revealed he was considered a “target” in the case, and investigators sought testimony from a witness located outside of the state.

On September 8th, the body of Rivas Hernandez was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to an address associated with D4vd in Texas. Police investigated after receiving reports of a bad smell coming from the car, which had been found abandoned in the Hollywood Hills and taken to a tow yard in Hollywood.

On September 16th, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the remains as belonging to the teenager. However, the official cause of death is still under investigation, according to records obtained by TopMob News on September 17th.

Rivas Hernandez, a 13-year-old who went missing from Lake Elsinore, California in April 2024, was found deceased. While her official date of death is listed as September 8th, authorities indicated her body had been in the vehicle for a significant amount of time and was badly decomposed when discovered.

I still can’t believe it. The police, they searched the house, you know, the one near where they found his Tesla in the Hollywood Hills. Apparently, according to the Los Angeles Times, that’s where D4vd had been living! Can you imagine? He was getting ready for the Withered World Tour, he was so excited, and then… then he cancelled it in September. ABC News said he was staying there before the tour. It just doesn’t make any sense… it’s all so heartbreaking.

Rivas Hernandez’s family shared their grief after the event, describing her as a cherished daughter, sister, cousin, and friend.

A statement on a GoFundMe page confirmed that the body found last week was Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her family is deeply saddened by her death and is asking for donations to help cover funeral expenses.

To learn more about D4vd and the investigation into the murder of Rivas Hernandez, continue reading.

D4vd, whose full name is David Anthony Burke, was born in Queens, New York, and later moved to Houston, Texas, at the age of 13.

D4vd started his career by streaming games like Fortnite on YouTube, hoping to gain popularity. In 2021, he faced issues with copyrighted music in his videos and asked his mom for help.

He explained to Benny Blanco in an interview with Hero magazine (September 2024) that he was feeling lost and frustrated. He said he basically complained to his mom, telling her he wasn’t earning any money. She responded by telling him to focus on making his own music and to leave her alone, which made him realize he could actually try doing that.

D4vd, who hadn’t had any formal musical training beyond singing casually, began creating music using an app on his phone. His songs quickly gained popularity online, and after several went viral on TikTok, his music career started to flourish.

He finally put out his first album, Withered, in April 2025, and quickly followed it up with his first tour around the world.

On September 8th, police were sent to a Hollywood tow yard after reports of a bad smell coming from a car, according to NBC News sources.

Los Angeles police discovered human remains inside a Tesla’s front trunk. The car was registered to David Anthony Burke, known as the artist D4vd, and the registration listed an address in Hempstead, Texas.

According to police, the car was towed to the impound lot after being left abandoned in the Hollywood Hills.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on September 16th that remains found in a Tesla belonged to Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been missing since April 5, 2024. She was 13 years old when she disappeared.

Records from the Medical Examiner’s Office, obtained by TopMob News on September 17th, show the official cause of death is still pending. While her body was found on September 8th, investigators believe it had been in the car for a significant amount of time beforehand and was badly decomposed.

After learning about the death of Rivas Hernandez, a representative for D4vd told NBC News that the singer has been notified and is working with the police while continuing his tour.

Since then, D4vd canceled the remainder of his U.S. dates.

On April 16, 2026, the Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest of D4vd in connection with the murder of Rivas Hernandez.

Los Angeles police have arrested 21-year-old David Burke for the murder of Celeste Rivas, according to a police statement on X. Burke is currently being held in jail without the possibility of bail.

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2026-04-17 23:47