D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has been arrested without bail in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in a Tesla registered to the artist. The arrest occurred in Hollywood Hills around 5 p.m. on Thursday, according to surveillance footage obtained by California Post and TMZ. The incident dates back to September 5 of last year when the Tesla, which had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills area, was towed to a yard in Hollywood due to a foul odor. Authorities discovered the dismembered body inside the vehicle, later identified as Hernandez, who had been reported missing earlier in 2024; she was last seen in Lake Elsinore, roughly 60 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Legal Proceedings and Formal Charges

D4vd was taken into custody based on probable cause and evidence, according to sources speaking to ABC News, and However, the arrest did not involve a formal charge yet. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has transferred the case to the Major Crimes unit and is currently reviewing whether to file formal charges; the case is expected to be presented to the district attorney’s office for consideration on Monday. According to local media. The case has drawn significant attention due to D4vd’s popularity, with 33 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 3.6 million followers on TikTok; his name is often associated with K-pop groups like BTS and NewJeans.

Forensic Challenges and Legal Defense

According to Eyewitness News. The coroner determined that the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a homicide. However, one of the main challenges for the forensic team was determining the exact cause of death due to the body’s condition, which had deteriorated and was found in parts. D4vd’s legal team has maintained his innocence, stating in a statement that the evidence will show he did not kill or cause the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. They emphasized that no formal charges have been filed by a grand jury and that D4vd has only been detained on suspicion — the team pledged to vigorously defend his innocence.

Family Support and Public Reaction

D4vd’s parents have also expressed their support for him, stating in a separate statement that they believe in his innocence and fully support him; the case has sparked public interest and media coverage, with multiple sources providing details on the investigation and legal developments. The discovery of the body in the Tesla, which was registered to D4vd, has been a central point in the ongoing investigation. The vehicle had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills and was towed to a yard in Hollywood before the body was found. Authorities have not yet released details on how the vehicle came to be abandoned or how the body was placed inside.