Days after his arrest for his alleged involvement in the murder of a missing teenager, the District Attorney’s Office has formally charged singer D4vd. The musician is charged with murder, along with charges of sexual abuse and mutilation.
On 20th April 2026 (Monday), D4vd appeared at a Los Angeles courtroom for his arraignment in the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas. The 21-year-old, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, sexual abuse with a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
@abcnews The Los Angeles County district attorney announced a first-degree murder charge against singer D4vd on Monday in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl, Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He faces a maximum sentence of life, without the possibility of parole, prosecutors said.
When announcing the charges against D4vd, L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the criminal complaint includes special circumstance allegations, including murder of a witness, murder for financial gain and lying in wait. He revealed that Celeste was a witness in an investigation into the singer for “lewd and lascivious sexual acts” with a person under 14.
Authorities also speculated that D4vd killed Celeste to silence her and protect his music career. If convicted as charged, the singer could face life in prison without parole. Given the special circumstances in his charges, the R&B star could also face the death penalty. However, the DA’s office said it will decide whether to seek it on a later date.
D4vd’s defence attorney, Blair Berk, pleaded not guilty on his behalf during the arraignment. She reiterated his claim of innocence, saying, “We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez. We would like to have the evidence come into the light of day.” At the end of the hearing, the judge ordered the singer to be held without bail.
@dailymailau D4vd appeared emotionless during his first court appearance on Monday, as he wore a black sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. The suspect did not make eye contact with people in the room, which included the victim’s family, as his attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. The severity of the first-degree murder charge makes the singer, 21, eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted. He is currently being held in prison with no bail. Read more at the link in bio. #crime #usa #d4vd #news#fyp
The investigation into Celeste’s murder began in 2025 after police found her decomposing body in an abandoned Tesla. The vehicle belonged to D4vd, who would later become a major suspect in the case. While the authorities kept many details of the investigation under wraps, netizens did their own sleuthing to discover that D4vd and Celeste were well-acquainted with each other.
Only time will tell how this court case will conclude. In the meantime, netizens have reacted to the news with mixed responses. While many believed that D4vd is guilty, some still expressed support for his innocence.
Sources: Rolling Stone, Al Jazeera
