Los Angeles County prosecutors charged singer D4vd with first-degree murder and special circumstances in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in the trunk of his Tesla last September.
The charges, announced Monday by District Attorney Nathan Hochman, include murder for financial gain, lying in wait, and killing a witness in a criminal investigation. Prosecutors allege D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, killed Hernandez to protect his music career, which she was threatening to expose.
In addition to murder, D4vd faces counts of continuous sexual acts with a minor under 14, lewd and lascivious conduct, and mutilation of human remains. The 21-year-old alt-pop singer was arrested April 16 at his Hollywood Hills home and remains in custody without bail.
Hochman described the killing as “brutal and horrific,” noting Hernandez’s body was decomposed and mutilated when discovered in a tow yard after the vehicle had been parked near the singer’s rented home for weeks. Medical examiners ruled her death a homicide last week.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the seven-month investigation relied on patience and discipline to avoid jeopardizing the case, acknowledging criticism over the department’s initial lack of public details. He confirmed police recovered and analyzed substantial digital and forensic evidence.
For more on this story, see Woman Charged With Stalking and Attacking Lindsey Buckingham.
The special circumstances alleged elevate the potential punishment from life without parole to the death penalty, though prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek capital punishment. Hochman said the determination will come later, noting the penalty is rare in California but legally permissible under the charged circumstances.
D4vd’s Texas-based parents attempted to quash grand jury subpoenas earlier this year, a move that surfaced in court filings around the time the extent of the victim’s injuries became known. The singer was on tour and out of state when Hernandez’s body was found in the car.
Celeste’s family is expected to make their first public statement through their attorney outside the courthouse after the district attorney’s press conference. Hochman, a father of three, said the case resonates personally as a parent’s worst nightmare.
The formal case is expected to be filed in court later today at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, where D4vd is anticipated to appear.
What specific special circumstances are prosecutors alleging in the D4vd case?
Prosecutors allege D4vd committed murder for financial gain, lay in wait for the victim, and killed her to prevent her from acting as a witness in a criminal investigation, along with using a sharp instrument as a deadly weapon.
Why has the death penalty not yet been formally sought in this case despite the charges making it possible?
District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated the decision on whether to pursue the death penalty will be made at a later time, though he confirmed it remains an option under the special circumstances charged.
