d4vd, whose government name is David Anthony Burke, was taken into custody in Hollywood and is being held without bail, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Scot Williams said.
The LAPD Robbery‑Homicide Division made the arrest, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office will receive the case for filing consideration, the district attorney told TMZ. Prosecutors from the Major Crimes Division will review the facts and evidence before deciding whether to file charges.
Burke’s attorneys issued a joint statement saying he has not been charged and that they intend to vigorously defend his innocence, with lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter saying the evidence will show he did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Sources told TMZ that officers arrested Burke at the Los Angeles home where he had been staying. LAPD Capt. Scot Williams confirmed the singer was booked and that investigators moved the case forward to prosecutors for review.
Investigation Details And Case Background
The arrest follows an investigation into the death of 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed body was found inside Burke’s Tesla after the car was impounded following reports of a foul odor, according to law enforcement accounts.
Police documents and court filings described grisly findings inside the vehicle. After opening a front storage compartment, investigators reported finding a black cadaver bag covered with insects and a strong odor of decay, and a partial unzipping revealed a decomposed head and torso, the filings said.
Detectives removed the cadaver bag and discovered that arms and legs had been severed. They found a second black bag beneath the first containing additional dismembered body parts, according to the court document. In an unusual move, detectives obtained a judge’s approval to seal the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s autopsy report, with police saying release could jeopardize the investigation.
Law enforcement sources told reporters that Celeste had been reported missing after leaving her Lake Elsinore home and that she had reportedly met Burke on social media and lived at a rental home with him after running away. Authorities said they believe Burke and Celeste had a relationship.
Investigators served a search warrant at Burke’s former home on Doheny Drive and seized electronics and computers, law enforcement sources said. A criminal jury investigation convened later and prosecutors led witness questioning before a grand jury, with Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman presenting testimony from several people in Burke’s orbit, including his manager Robert Morgenroth and friend Neo Langston.
Police said Burke’s Tesla had been parked in the Hollywood Hills for days before being towed and later impounded at a tow yard where the body was discovered. The discovery occurred a day after what would have been the girl’s 15th birthday, according to reporting. Celeste’s family held a funeral at Queen of Heaven Cemetery & Mortuary in Rowland Heights.
The singer canceled the remainder of his tour amid the investigation. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that detectives suspected a late‑night trip by Burke to a remote area of Santa Barbara might be connected to the girl’s disappearance, and investigators continue to compile evidence for prosecutors to review.
