The singer born David Anthony Burke is facing a first-degree murder charge with possibility for the death penalty.

Official cause of death revealed for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, teen at center of D4vd murder case

The singer born David Anthony Burke is facing a first-degree murder charge with possibility for the death penalty.

By Sharareh Drury

April 22, 2026 2:41 p.m. ET

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D4vd; Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Credit:

Getty; GoFundMe

- Authorities have determined an official cause of death for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the teen girl whose remains were discovered in singer D4vd's impounded car last September.

- Celeste, 14, died from "multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s)."

- D4vd is facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the girl's death. He has pleaded not guilty.

Authorities have disclosed an official cause of death for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the teen girl whose remains were found decomposing in the singer D4vd's impounded car last year.

Celeste's death at 14 was attributed to "multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s)", according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. The manner of death was ruled as homicide.

Last September, Celeste's dismembered body was discovered by Los Angeles police in an impounded Tesla registered to D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke. Officers had responded to reports of a "foul odor" coming from a vehicle in a Hollywood tow yard.

D4vd's booking photo.

Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty

Burke, 21, is facing a first-degree murder charge with potential eligibility for the death penalty, as well as one count each of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The musician was arrested April 16 on suspicion of murder, eight months after Celeste's body was found. She had been reported missing by her family in April 2024, when she was 13.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman alleged during a press conference in April that Celeste went to Burke's home in the Hollywood Hills on April 23, 2025, and that was the last time she was seen alive. Hochman said there is physical, forensic, and digital evidence that will be presented in court "to prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt."

Burke is accused of murder with multiple special circumstances that make the case eligible for either the death penalty or life without parole. Those circumstances include lying in wait, murder for financial gain, as well as murdering a witness to a crime. Celeste is considered a witness to the charge of sexual abuse of a child.

D4vd performing at Coachella in 2025.

Emma McIntyre/Getty

Burke has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys said in a statement provided to EW, "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. We will vigorously defend David's innocence."

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D4vd is known for viral singles like "Here With Me" and "Romantic Homicide," which have each surpassed 1.5 billion streams on Spotify. He kicked off a world tour supporting his debut album, *Withered*, last August.

The tour was scheduled to cover North America and Europe, running through November 2025, but was cut short due to the homicide investigation.**

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Source: “EW Celebrity”