LOS ANGELES (AP) — Singer D4vd has been arrested on suspicion of killing a 14-year-old girl whose decomposed body was found seven months ago in his apparently abandoned Tesla, authorities said Thursday, while his lawyers declared his innocence.
Los Angeles police reported the arrest of the 21-year-old Houston-born alt-pop singer, whose legal name is David Burke, on suspicion of murder in connection with the investigation of Celeste Rivas Hernandez's death.
Defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter responded via email emphasizing 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.”
Authorities will present the case to prosecutors at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Monday, but no charges have yet been filed. The District Attorney's office is expected to review the evidence to decide the next steps.
The defense lawyers criticized the prosecution, stating that there has been no indictment from a grand jury and that David has only been held under suspicion, pledging to “vigorously defend” his innocence.
This marks the first public statement from the defense as Burke remains in custody without bail.
Investigators had been probing Burke as a suspect under an LA County grand jury investigation regarding the death of Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered in a Tesla in September 2023, shortly after she was reported missing. Authorities found her remains, which had been described as severely decomposed and partially dismembered.
D4vd rose to fame with his viral 2022 hit “Romantic Homicide” and had been actively touring before the disturbing revelations unfolded. Following the news of his arrest, D4vd's remaining performances were canceled.
