• US singer D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder.
• The victim, 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was reported missing before her decomposed body was found in Burke's Tesla.
• Prosecutors allege Burke murdered Hernandez for financial gain and may have been involved in her sexual abuse.

Los Angeles County prosecutors have officially charged 21-year-old singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, with first-degree murder in the case of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her decomposed body was discovered in September 2025 inside a Tesla vehicle registered to Burke, a car that had been parked on the street for an extended period, leading to its tow. District Attorney Nathan Hochman described Celeste's demise as a "parent's nightmare" and stated she was last seen alive at Burke's residence on April 23, 2025, before being reported missing by her family, according to Los Angeles Times, South China Morning Post, India Times, BBC, and Channel News Asia.

Burke faces multiple serious charges, including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor and the mutilation of Hernandez's body, which was found in a cadaver bag with severed limbs. Prosecutors assert Burks' motive included financial gain, suggesting her potential testimony about their illegal relationship posed a threat. The investigation revealed that Burke "murdered a witness" suggesting her potential involvement in an investigation against him. If found guilty, he could face a life sentence without parole or the death penalty, as highlighted by Hochman in a press conference, according to Los Angeles Times, South China Morning Post, India Times, BBC, and Channel News Asia.

According to court documents, Celeste’s remains were discovered in a state that delayed the medical examiner's determination of the cause of death, raising significant questions about the timeline and circumstances surrounding her tragic death. Police were under significant pressure for a timely resolution due to media scrutiny and community sentiment, which led to intensive investigative efforts, as detailed by Hochman and police officials, according to Los Angeles Times, South China Morning Post, India Times, BBC, and Channel News Asia.