Famous Singer CHARGED With M*rder of 14-Year-Old Girl, May Face Death Penalty

Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has just been charged with first-degree murder for the death of a 14-year-old girl.

About seven months ago, the dismembered body of teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke.

Last week, Burke was arrested for the horrific crime.

TMZ shared footage of his arrest:

🚨TMZ has obtained exclusive video showing singer D4vd being arrested for the murder of Celeste Rivas and the scene is intense. pic.twitter.com/3G1o66DDaA

— TMZ (@TMZ) April 17, 2026

Under California law, Burke now faces a maximum sentence of life without parole or the death penalty.

Here are the details:

D4vd has been charged by the Los Angeles District Attorney with first-degree murder with special circumstances (lying in wait) in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a charge that carries a potential sentence of life without parole or the death penalty.… pic.twitter.com/W3NAOqw45R

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) April 20, 2026

D4vd has been charged by the Los Angeles District Attorney with first-degree murder with special circumstances (lying in wait) in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a charge that carries a potential sentence of life without parole or the death penalty.

Additional charges include lewd and lascivious acts involving a child under 14 and m-tilation of human remains.

Watch Los Angeles DA Nathan Hochman announce the charges here:

🇺🇸 D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder over the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

If guilty, the maximum sentence will be life, without the possibility of parole.

Celeste was reported missing in 2024, and her dismembered body was later found in D4vd's… https://t.co/JlOpCKkiGW pic.twitter.com/1m8m8WRFK7

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 20, 2026

D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder over the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

If guilty, the maximum sentence will be life, without the possibility of parole.

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Celeste was reported missing in 2024, and her dismembered body was later found in D4vd’s abandoned Tesla.

Source: ABC

This case is truly disturbing.

Authorities believe that Burke was sexually abusing the young girl before he killed her to keep her from telling someone about what he did to her and ruining his music career.

The Los Angeles Times reported further:

Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said D4vd repeatedly sexually abused Celeste and mutilated her body. She was last seen at the singer’s home in April 2025, according to Hochman, then was “not heard from again.”

“A parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back,” Hochman said.

Prosecutors will file murder with special circumstances charges later on Monday, alleging Burke killed Celeste for financial gain and because she was a witness to a crime — her own sexual abuse at the singer’s hands. If convicted as charged, Burke would face life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty.

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Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said authorities had learned in the investigation that Burke was sexually abusing the 14-year-old, but authorities declined to elaborate on the details of how they believe it was linked to her disappearance.

Hochman also said the killing was committed for financial gain, so that Burke could “maintain his very lucrative musical career,” which Celeste posed a threat to.

But, it gets even worse.

Burke became famous for his song…titled ‘Romantic Homicide.’

Here are the lyrics to that song:

I’m scared, it feels like you don’t care
Enlighten me, my dear
Why am I still here? Oh
I don’t mean to be complacent with the decisions you made
But why? Oh

In the back of my mind you died
And I didn’t even cry
No, not a single tear

And I’m sick of waiting patiently
For someone that won’t even arrive
Woah

In the back of my mind I killed you
And I did not even regret it
I can’t believe I said it
But it’s true, I hate you

In light of his arrest, this clip of Burke explaining the lyrics is going viral:

Clip resurfaces of D4vd explaining lyrics to controversial song “Romantic Homicide” amid news he was arrested for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez months after she was found dead in the trunk of his Tesla pic.twitter.com/18ksXhQNRm

— Follow @KollegeKidd (@_kollegekidd) April 17, 2026

Now, this song was released two years before the alleged murder of Celeste Rivas.

But, it definitely gives us some insight as to where this singer’s mindset was…

However, Burke has denied all wrongdoing.

His lawyers released a statement after his arrest defending his innocence.

More from the New York Post:

Shortly after the body was discovered, D4vd canceled his remaining tour dates and went silent as online speculation continued to grow around his possible relationship with Rivas — including photos that surfaced of the two together before her disappearance.

As the case continued to develop, more horrifying details emerged about the condition in which Rivas’ dismembered body was found — including the fact her body parts were dumped in two different cadaver bags within the Tesla.

Cops found Rivas’ head and torso in one bag and several body parts in a second bag with insects swarming over the remains, according to documents unsealed in a Texas court.

D4vd’s legal team released a statement shortly after the singer’s arrest.

“Let us be clear — the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed,” attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said in a joint statement.

“David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence,” the attorneys continued.