D4vd, a singer and veritable social media star, is making headlines after officially being arrested and charged with the murder of a teen girl named Celeste Rivas.
Last year, he initially came under suspicion over a decomposing body discovered in the trunk of a Tesla. The gruesome discovery linked back to the performer, real name David Anthony Burke, due to the car being registered in his name. The vehicle was impounded at a tow lot in Hollywood, and the remains were discovered when a foul odor coming from the trunk was reported to the LAPD.
After initially not being seen as a person of interest, the 21-year-old was formally charged with first-degree murder on April 20, 2026 after being taken into custody last week, as well as facing additional charges for lewd acts with a child and for dismembering a body. He was allegedly in a sexual relationship with the victim, who was 14 when she died.
© Getty ImagesHere's all you need to know, in case you were wondering, about who the singer is, what brought him fame, and more on the ongoing situation…
Meet D4vd
D4vd was born in Queens, New York City, but was raised primarily in Houston, Texas. He primarily grew up listening to gospel music, but discovered hip-hop and indie through online gaming, specifically Fortnite, developing a love in particular for artists like XXXTentacion and Members Only. It also sparked his interest in the world of YouTube.
© InstagramIn 2021, D4vd began his professional career when he began uploading Fortnite montages to YouTube, and his mom recommended he make his own music to avoid copyright strikes. While his songs were uploaded to SoundCloud at first, he started receiving some viral notoriety on TikTok by 2022, specifically with the song "Romantic Homicide."
The song was released independently through DistroKid and became a worldwide commercial success, reaching the top 40 in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. It was particularly successful in the Rock and Alternative space, becoming a top five hit in his native United States. The song's success led to him being signed by Darkroom and Interscope Records.
© Getty ImagesContinued success and allegations
His fame continued on TikTok and the charts with the release of his first two EPs in 2023, Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals. He embarked on his first tour, the Petals to Thorns Tour, that same year, and was tapped as the opening act for SZA's SOS Tour in 2023 as well. He also released songs for the soundtrack for the Prime Video series Invincible and Arcane.
© Getty ImagesD4vd's debut studio album, Withered, was finally released last April and became a top 20 Billboard 200 hit, as well as reaching the top three of Billboard's alternative albums chart. Earlier in 2025, he also partnered with Fortnite to release their official anthem. His songs have hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify, with "Romantic Homicide" alone boasting over 1.6 billion.
Soon after he was first connected with the case in September of 2025, though, D4vd canceled the remaining dates of his United States tour. He has since remained out of the public eye.
What do we know of the murder case against D4vd?
© Getty ImagesDistrict Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement: "There is physical evidence and there is forensic and digital evidence that we intend to present in court to prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt." LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell then explained why details of the case were not released sooner.
"My duty is not to fuel speculation. It's to deliver justice, and that requires patience and discipline on everybody's part. This investigation was driven by a single purpose – to secure justice for Celeste Rivas and for those who loved her."
