The 21-year-old singer, David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of murdering a teenage girl. The victim, identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old, was found deceased in the singer's impounded Tesla in September. Burke is being held without bail, with the case set to be presented to the District Attorney's office on Monday.
Arrest Details Emerge Amid Ongoing Investigation
Authorities apprehended Burke at a residence in the Hollywood Hills on Thursday afternoon, acting on a probable cause warrant. Law enforcement sources indicate the singer has been "uncooperative in the investigation." This arrest follows a months-long process of gathering evidence, with investigators reportedly tracing Burke's movements, including a visit to his family in Texas.
Representatives for the singer have previously stated cooperation with authorities. However, Burke himself has not publicly commented on the investigation. His attorneys have issued a statement asserting his innocence, declaring that "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."
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A Case Unfolding Over Months
The grim discovery of Rivas Hernandez's remains in the singer's vehicle occurred seven months prior to the arrest. The cause and manner of her death remain under investigation. It is not yet publicly clear if Rivas Hernandez and Burke had a connection, though speculation has circulated online.
Police had obtained a court order to prevent the LA County Medical Examiner's office from releasing details about the case. This development comes approximately two months after the artist was reportedly the subject of a grand jury probe.
Background
D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, gained recognition in recent years. In the same year Rivas Hernandez went missing, he was included on Variety's Young Hollywood list and opened for SZA on her SOS tour. His previous musical releases were associated with Universal Music Group’s Interscope Records and Darkroom Records, though he is no longer listed on their official rosters. Investigators had previously executed a search warrant at a property near where the Tesla was towed, but the contents of that search remain undisclosed.
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