US singer D4vd has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenage girl who went missing last year, according to police.
The artist, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, was the subject of a grand jury investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered in his Tesla in September.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed on Thursday that the 21-year-old is being held without bail. Authorities said the case is expected to be presented to the District Attorney’s office on Monday for further consideration.
In a statement to US media, Burke’s legal team denied the allegations and insisted he did not cause the teenager’s death.
“Let us be clear – 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,” his lawyers said.
They added that no indictment has been returned by a grand jury and no formal criminal complaint has been filed, stressing that Burke is being held only on suspicion.
Police had earlier announced his arrest “for the murder of Celeste Rivas,” following months of investigation.
Questions around the case intensified after the discovery on September 8 of the 14-year-old’s remains in a Hollywood tow yard. Authorities had responded to reports of a foul smell coming from a vehicle linked to the singer.
Court documents stated that investigators found severely decomposed remains, including the teenager’s head and torso, inside a cadaver bag in the front boot of a Tesla registered to an address associated with Burke in Texas.
The county medical examiner described the body as “severely decomposed” and said a cause of death could not immediately be determined, noting she may have been dead for several weeks before discovery.
Officials have not yet announced a cause of death, and the case has remained under investigation for months.
A judge previously ordered the sealing of the teen’s death records in November to allow investigators access to medical findings before public release.
Rivas Hernandez, who lived about 75 miles from where her body was found, had been reported missing by her family in April 2024. Reports indicate she had previously run away from home in Lake Elsinore, California.
The case has drawn widespread public attention online amid speculation about her connection to the singer, though authorities have released few confirmed details.
Court filings obtained from related proceedings indicated that Burke had been identified as a “target” of the grand jury investigation, which began hearing evidence in December.
D4vd, known for songs such as Romantic Homicide and Here With Me, rose to fame through social media before transitioning into mainstream music success, including collaborations and major tours.
Following the discovery of Hernandez’s remains, he cancelled scheduled performances and withdrew from public appearances, while several brand partnerships were also suspended.
The case remains under active investigation as prosecutors prepare to review the evidence.
