Executive Summary
- Prosecutors have presented evidence to a Los Angeles grand jury seeking a murder indictment against singer D4vd.
- The dismembered remains of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas were found in a Tesla registered to the singer in September.
- Police executed a search warrant at the singer’s home and investigated links between him and the victim.
- D4vd’s legal team previously stated he was cooperating with authorities, and no formal charges have been publicly filed yet.
Los Angeles prosecutors have presented evidence to a grand jury seeking a murder indictment against 20-year-old singer D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, in connection with the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas. According to sources cited by Us Weekly, grand jurors have begun reviewing testimony and evidence several months after the teenager’s dismembered remains were discovered in the trunk of a vehicle registered to the recording artist.
The investigation was initiated on September 8 when Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to reports of a foul odor at a Hollywood tow yard. Law enforcement officials confirmed to NBC News that they discovered human remains inside a Tesla registered to Burke. The vehicle had been towed to the location approximately one week earlier after being reported as abandoned. Authorities later identified the body as that of Rivas, noting the remains were severely decomposed and dismembered.
Rivas had been reported missing since April 2024 from Lake Elsinore, California. Investigators have examined the connection between the victim and the singer. Rivas’ mother stated to TMZ that her daughter had a boyfriend named David, and reports indicate that both individuals possessed matching tattoos on their right index fingers. During the initial phase of the inquiry, police executed a search warrant at Burke’s residence while he was on tour.
Additional scrutiny arose when a private investigator, hired by Burke’s former landlord, reported discovering a “burn cage” incinerator at the singer’s former Hollywood Hills rental. The investigator, Steve Fischer, stated on social media platform X that while the equipment appeared unused and in its packaging, its presence at the residence associated with the vehicle containing the remains raised questions regarding intent. Police have described the investigation as “meticulous” and not rushed.
Burke’s attorney, Blair Berk, was not immediately available for comment regarding the grand jury proceedings. Following the initial discovery of the remains, a spokesperson for the singer told NBC News that Burke had been informed of the situation and was “fully cooperating with the authorities.” In the wake of the investigation, Burke’s scheduled tour dates were canceled, and the release of his deluxe album was halted by his record label, Interscope.
Procedural Legal Outlook
The convening of a grand jury represents a significant escalation in the legal proceedings, allowing prosecutors to seek an indictment based on probable cause outside of a public preliminary hearing. This step typically indicates that the District Attorney’s office believes there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial on serious charges. If the grand jury returns a true bill of indictment, the case will move to the Superior Court for arraignment. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
