US singer D4vd has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenage girl who was reported missing last year, police said.
The artist, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, had been under investigation by a grand jury in connection with the apparent killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her remains were discovered in a Tesla vehicle linked to him in September.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the 21-year-old is being held without bail. Authorities added that the case is scheduled to be presented to the District Attorney’s office on Monday.
The singer has made no public statements regarding the allegations. His representatives had previously indicated that he was cooperating with investigators.
Police confirmed on Thursday that Burke had been taken into custody “for the murder of Celeste Rivas”.
The case has drawn increasing scrutiny since the discovery of the 14-year-old’s remains on 8 September at a Hollywood tow yard. Authorities were initially alerted after reports of a foul odour emanating from the vehicle.
Court documents state that investigators found the girl’s decomposed head and torso inside a cadaver bag in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to an address associated with the singer in Texas.
The county medical examiner described the remains as “severely decomposed” and said a determination on the cause of death had been deferred pending further investigation. Officials believe the victim may have died several weeks before her body was found.
No official cause of death has yet been released. For months, authorities classified the case broadly as a death investigation.
In November, a judge ordered the teen’s death records to be sealed to allow investigators to obtain additional findings from the medical examiner before public disclosure.
Rivas Hernandez, who lived approximately 75 miles (120km) from the discovery site, was last reported missing by her family in April 2024. She had previously run away from her home in Lake Elsinore.
Described as a first-generation daughter of immigrants from El Salvador, neighbours recalled seeing her frequently at a local convenience store, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Limited official information surrounding the case has fuelled widespread speculation online, with many attempting to draw connections between the victim and the “Romantic Homicide” singer.
A grand jury began hearing evidence in December. Burke’s arrest on Thursday represents the most significant development in the case in recent months.
Further details emerged through court filings after members of the singer’s family were summoned from Texas to testify before the grand jury.
In contesting the summons in a Texas court, Burke’s father, Dawud Burke, submitted materials from the California proceedings that had not previously been made public.
Documents obtained by the BBC indicate that D4vd had been formally identified as a “target” of the grand jury investigation in Los Angeles and could face proceedings on one count of murder.
Among previously undisclosed details, authorities noted that Rivas Hernandez was found wearing a tube top, small black leggings, and jewellery, including a yellow metal stud earring and a chain bracelet.
She also had a tattoo reading “Shhh…” on her index finger, similar to a marking on the singer’s own finger.
Following the discovery, D4vd cancelled his world tour and withdrew from public appearances, marking a sharp decline in his music career.
Police have also said they searched the Hollywood Hills residence where he had been staying, located near the site where the vehicle was towed. In the aftermath, he was dropped from marketing partnerships with Hollister and Crocs.
Separately, Kali Uchis announced she would remove their collaboration, “Crashing,” from circulation.
