In brief
US singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has been arrested and charged with multiple serious crimes, including murder and continuous sexual abuse of a minor. Prosecutors allege that he had a significant amount of child sex abuse images on his devices at the time of his arrest. The circumstances surrounding the case are deeply troubling, with the alleged victim's dismembered body found in his vehicle. D4vd has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
US singer D4vd has been accused of having 'a significant amount' of images depicting child sex abuse on his phone and iCloud account when he was arrested over the death of a 14-year-old girl found in his car, prosecutors say.
The discovery was made through search warrants in the case as police investigated how Celeste Rivas Hernandez died and ended up in the singer's Tesla, prosecutors said in court on Thursday.
Prosecutors allege D4vd repeatedly sexually abused the teen before killing and dismembering her body, which they say he did to protect his lucrative music career.
D4vd, whose real name David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the case.
His attorneys maintain they will vigorously defend David's innocence and said they believe the evidence will show that David did not kill Celeste.
The BBC has reached out to Burke's attorneys regarding the allegations of him possessing materials depicting child sex abuse. However, he is not facing criminal charges related to those allegations.
Two court hearings in the case are scheduled for next week.
Rivas Hernandez's body was discovered dismembered in a black zipper bag in the trunk of Burke's Tesla in September 2025. Police made the discovery after receiving a report of foul odor from the vehicle, which had been towed to a Hollywood tow yard.
Her family reported her missing, last seeing her at Burke's Hollywood Hills home on April 3, 2025. She was found five months later. Rivas’s family described her as a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance and called for justice in her death.
The pair had no known previous connection, raising significant public interest and concern over the investigation.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney has laid out a detailed case against Burke, with substantial digital and forensic evidence being analyzed in the ongoing investigation.
