David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on Monday.
The 21-year-old faces the possibility of life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty.
Prosecutors allege special circumstances including lying in wait, killing a witness to an investigation, and murder for financial gain.
Mr Burke was arrested last Thursday at his Hollywood Hills home by officers from the LAPD’s robbery-homicide division and has been held without bail since.
David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, has been charged with first-degree murder
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“We came to the home with a probable cause arrest warrant for him,” Commanding Officer Captain Scot M Williams confirmed.
He also faces charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, along with a count of mutilating human remains.
The witness-related allegation stems from claims that Ms Rivas had been involved in an investigation linked to the sexual offence charges.
According to District Attorney Hochman, the case is supported by witness testimony and documentary evidence.
The remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in September
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A decision on whether to pursue the death penalty will be made at a later stage.
The case dates back to September 2025, when staff at a Hollywood tow yard reported a foul smell coming from a Tesla that had been left at the site for several days.
Officers discovered the decomposed remains of Ms Rivas inside a bag in the vehicle’s front trunk.
The car had been impounded after being abandoned in the Hollywood Hills, where residents had complained of a strong odour.
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Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell held a news conference, to update the media on the case
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Court documents later revealed the teenager’s body had been dismembered and placed into two separate cadaver bags.
Investigators found her head and torso in one bag, while other body parts were discovered in a second bag.
Ms Rivas had been reported missing by her family in April 2024 when she was 13.
Mr Burke’s legal team has denied the allegations.
A decision on whether to pursue the death penalty for D4vd will be made at a later stage
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“Let us be clear — 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,” attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said.
They added: “We will vigorously defend David’s innocence."
Celeste Rivas Hernandez
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The victim’s family welcomed the arrest, with her father, Jesus Rivas, saying through family attorney Patrick Steinfeld: “Thank God…justice for Celeste.”
Relatives have indicated they intend to exercise their rights under California’s Marsy’s Law to attend Mr Burke’s arraignment and any subsequent press conferences held by prosecutors.