D4vd accused of murder and mutilation of a corpse
Singer David Anthony Burke, known by the stage name D4vd, appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 20 on charges of killing a teenage girl.
David Anthony Burke, better known as D4vd, allegedly used a chainsaw to dismember the body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after stabbing her to death.
Burke is charged with murder, continued sexual abuse of a minor and mutilation of a corpse. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to the indictment, Burke had a shovel, two chainsaws, an incinerator, body bags and an inflatable pool delivered to his home in Hollywood to destroy the victim’s remains.
He also allegedly amputated two of the girl’s fingers to eliminate a tattoo that linked him to her.
David Anthony Burke, 21, is accused of killing the 14-year-old because she had threatened to reveal the abuse she suffered and thus ruin her musical career.
According to the prosecution, the relationship between Burke and the girl began when she was only 11 years old.
The document states that Burke, knowing he had to “silence” the victim, stabbed her several times, leaving her to bleed to death.
The inflatable pool would have been used to contain the body during dismemberment. Fragments of plastic were found in the body.
The remains of the body, in an advanced state of decomposition, were found in the trunk of a Tesla owned by D4vd.
The girl was last seen on April 23, 2025 in Burke’s home. The previous evening the two had had a long argument, during which she allegedly threatened to destroy his career.
The autopsy revealed that the girl died from two stab wounds. The body was dismembered and two fingers were missing.
According to the prosecution, Burke cut off the girl’s fingers to remove a tattoo with her name.
The relationship between the two reportedly became sexual when she was 13. Messages between the two referred to sex, pregnancy, abortion and use of the morning-after pill.
Investigators found naked images of the girl and a large amount of child pornography on Burke’s phone.
According to the prosecution, Burke also attempted to cover his tracks immediately after the murder, sending messages to the girl’s phone to make it appear as if she had never arrived at his house.
He then allegedly drove to a lake in Santa Barbara County to dispose of the victim’s personal items.
In January 2026, the girl’s ID was found near Lake Cachuma.
