D4vd Named Target in Investigation of Teen's Dismembered Body Found in His Tesla

Newly unsealed court documents confirm that Texas singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, is the target of a grand jury investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found dismembered in his Tesla in September.

Burke, 20, has not been charged in the case, and no indictment has been announced.

The court documents were released after a California court summoned Burke’s family to testify in front of a grand jury. The family currently lives in Houston, and they are fighting against the summons in a Texas court.

The court has not yet decided whether it will compel the Burke family to testify.

The Texas filings revealed information from the California court documents that had previously been unknown to the public, including confirmation that David Burke is a “target” of the investigation and could face a murder charge.

The singer has not commented on the case, but his representatives previously said he was cooperating with police.

In a grand jury proceeding, prosecutors present evidence to laypeople, who then determine whether it is reasonable to bring charges against someone.

The decomposed remains of Rivas Hernandez were discovered on Sept. 8, 2025 in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla, which had been impounded to a tow yard after it was reportedly abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for more than a month. Employees at the tow yard noticed a strong odor coming from the vehicle and reported it to police.

Because the car had been abandoned, police said Sept. 29 that she “may have been deceased for several weeks before the discovery of her body.”

New details from the Texas court filings also reveal more information about the state of Rivas Hernandez's body when it was found. According to the documents, two black cadaver bags were found in the car - one contained her head and torso, while the other contained her dismembered arms and legs.

The girl was identified through forensics and had been missing since 2024, according to investigators. Rivas Hernandez was from nearby Riverside County.

Burke grew up in Houston after his family moved there from Queens, New York. The singer-songwriter, 20, is known for blending alternative, R&B and indie influences into his music. He first gained attention with his breakout hit “Romantic Homicide,” which went viral on TikTok and climbed the charts.

The human remains were found while D4vd was on tour performing Minneapolis. He had been on tour since early August, but the tour came to a screeching halt when the remains were discovered.

The investigation is ongoing.