D4vd charged with murder of missing teenager
Rapper D4vd has been charged with the murder of Celeste Rivas after being arrested on Thursday, April 16th.
The singer, whose real name is David Burke, is now facing a first-degree murder charge as well as charges for lewd acts with a child and for dismembering the victim’s body.
After being seen on April 25th, 2025, Rivas was a missing person for five months before the remnants of her body were found in a Tesla in Los Angeles that belonged to the singer. However, District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said that the details of Rivas’ death will remain confidential until the official coroner’s report is released.
Hochman has stated that there is “physical, forensic and digital evidence” surrounding the singer’s relationship with Rivas, noting that the singer had engaged in a sexual relationship with Rivas, who was 14 at the time of her death.
Leading up to her disappearance, Rivas had been reported missing by her family and hadn’t been seen for over a year. Despite details being scarce, her mother had said that she was aware that her daughter did have a boyfriend named David and that both of them had matching ‘Shhh’ tattoos on their fingers.
Her brother’s last recollection of his sister was that she had told him she was going to see a movie on the night of her disappearance.
While the body was first discovered in September 2025, the details of the investigation had remained classified until recently. Based on the details around the body found in Burke’s car, the medical examiner said that the remains of Rivas were most likely refrigerated before being placed in the singer’s car.
In a statement, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that they did not release the details of the case to the public in order not to fuel any sort of speculation, saying, “My duty is to deliver justice, and that requires patience and discipline on everybody’s part. This investigation was driven by a single purpose — to secure justice for Celeste Rivas and for those who loved her.”
While there has been no verdict on what Burke will be facing, the charges of first-degree murder would make him potentially eligible for the death penalty in Los Angeles.
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