Los Angeles: Alt-pop singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, more than seven months after her decomposed remains were discovered inside a Tesla registered to his address. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the arrest late Thursday, saying the 21-year-old was being held without bail.

Police said in a statement, “Homicide Division have arrested David Burke, a 21-year-old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas. Burke is being held without bail. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s office on Monday for filing consideration,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The arrest marks the most significant development since September 2025, when authorities found Hernandez’s remains inside an abandoned Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard, triggering a complex investigation that later identified Burke as a central target of a grand jury probe.

Body found in Tesla after reports of foul odour

Hernandez, who vanished from Lake Elsinore in 2024 when she was 13, had been missing for roughly 18 months before officers responded to complaints of a strong smell coming from a 2023 Tesla Model Y impounded at Hollywood Tow on 8 September 2025. The vehicle was registered to Burke’s Texas address.

Court filings revealed that detectives located a cadaver bag “covered with insects and a strong odor of decay” in the car’s front storage compartment. When unzipped, investigators saw a decomposed head and torso. A second bag beneath the first contained her severed limbs.

A statement from the medical examiner at the time noted, “The deceased was found severely decomposed inside a vehicle. She appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found.” Officials said she may have been dead for “several weeks”.

The death records were later sealed by court order, which the Los Angeles Police Department said was necessary to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

Grand jury investigations and growing suspicion

Although police avoided publicly naming Burke as a suspect for months, documents released during a Texas court challenge by the singer’s family confirmed he had been designated a “target” of a Los Angeles County grand jury. The filings, obtained by reporters, said the “Target may be involved in having committed the following criminal offenses… One count of Murder.”

More details emerged when Burke’s father attempted to block a subpoena in Texas, inadvertently revealing materials from the sealed California case. The documents described the condition of the remains and noted the victim was found wearing a tube top, black leggings, and jewellery, including items matching earlier descriptions provided by investigators. She also had a “Shhh…” tattoo on her index finger, similar to one worn by Burke.

The secrecy surrounding the investigation, combined with the disturbing circumstances of the discovery, fuelled significant public speculation online.

Police raids, career fallout and public silence

In the weeks following the discovery, officers raided a Hollywood Hills mansion where Burke had been living, only a short distance from where the Tesla had been towed. As scrutiny intensified, the singer cancelled multiple tour dates, including shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Europe. A planned appearance at the Grammy Museum was also pulled.

Brands quickly distanced themselves. He was dropped from campaigns with the clothing retailer Hollister and footwear company Crocs. Meanwhile, Colombian-American singer Kali Uchis removed their collaboration ‘Crashing’ from streaming platforms.

Burke himself remained largely silent, though representatives previously insisted he was cooperating with police.

Breakthrough leads to arrest

On Thursday, LAPD confirmed his arrest on a probable cause warrant. Local outlets, including NBC4, reported he was detained in Hollywood and booked without bail. Detectives are expected to present the case to prosecutors on Monday.

Before the arrest, Burke had previously opened for SZA and performed at Coachella in 2025, building a major following through TikTok and SoundCloud after the success of his singles ‘Here With Me’ and ‘Romantic Homicide’.