David Burke, who performs professionally under the moniker “D4vd,” has been arrested for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed remains were found in the singer and once-upon-a-time Fortnite gamer’s Tesla after she went missing last spring, according to multiple news reports.
According to NBC4 Los Angeles, Burke was arrested on April 16 at a Hollywood Hills home on Marmont Avenue. The Hollywood Reporter corroborated NBC4’s reporting, sharing a statement from the LA Police Department explaining the nature of Burke’s arrest.
“[The] Homicide Division [has] arrested David Burke, a 21-year-old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas. Burke is being held without bail,” the LAPD said. “The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s office on Monday for filing consideration.”
Following his arrest, Burke’s attorneys told The Hollywood Reporter on April 16 that there has been no indictment and no criminal complaint has been filed, citing that the evidence will prove his innocence. The same attorneys told NBC4 that they are ready to “vigorously defend David’s innocence” in the case.
“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,” the attorneys said. “There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
According to TMZ, late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel was caught in the chaos of Burke’s arrest because Kimmel–an LA resident–lives on the very block that police swarmed. TMZ also reports there may be issues with the case against Burke because of complications surrounding Rivas Hernandez’s cause of death.
🎥🚨 There is a MAJOR problem in the prosecution’s case against D4vd and it could change everything. pic.twitter.com/VpvhMeV87E
— TMZ (@TMZ) April 17, 2026
Burke began his musical career as D4vd not long after posting Fortnite montages to YouTube with his original songs in 2021. Since then, he became a rising star in the R&B scene, opening for SZA in 2023, performing at The Game Awards in 2024, and playing a set at Coachella in 2025. He was set to embark on a world tour last year, but that was canceled following Rivas Hernandez’s death.
Burke’s arrest comes seven months after Rivas Hernandez’s body was found in the trunk of his Tesla. Although identified as a suspect, NBC4 reported that the arrest came much longer after Rivas Hernandez was discovered because the LAPD didn’t want to compromise the evidence or the investigation.
