Los Angeles authorities have taken into custody David Burke, the 21-year-old recording artist who performs under the stage name D4vd, charging him with the killing of teenager Celeste Rivas, according to police officials Thursday.
The 14-year-old victim, who lived in a community roughly 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles, had been missing for approximately 18 months before her decomposed body was located in September 2025. Investigators found her remains inside the front storage compartment of a vehicle that belonged to Burke, which had sat abandoned in a Hollywood Hills area for several weeks before being removed to a towing facility where employees noticed a strange smell.
Burke rose to prominence in 2022 when music he created using his mobile phone for Fortnite gaming content became popular on TikTok. His track “Romantic Homicide” became a breakout success, leading to a recording contract with Darkroom/Interscope Records, the same label that represents artist Billie Eilish.
Media outlets began connecting Burke to the case shortly after Rivas’s body was discovered, though law enforcement officials said they were pursuing a thorough investigation and waited until now to file formal charges.
“Detectives from Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery‑Homicide Division have arrested David Burke, a 21‑year‑old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas,” Los Angeles police said in a statement on X.
Authorities are holding Burke without the possibility of posting bond, and prosecutors will review his case beginning Monday, according to the police announcement.
Burke’s legal representative, Blair Berk, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment. Berk has generally avoided making public statements about the case. Before the arrest occurred, Berk maintained that no evidence had been made public that would connect her client to any criminal activity and stressed his constitutional protections while the investigation remained ongoing.
