Singer D4vd charged with murder in death of teen girl: Do his chilling lyrics hint at the crime?
American singer-songwriter D4vd has been charged over the death of a 14-year-old girl, renewing attention to some of his song lyrics.
The victim’s decomposed body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to the 21-year-old singer in Los Angeles in September, more than a year after she was reported missing.
It has been seven months since police first discovered Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains, leading to the arrest of D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, last week in connection with her death.
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After Hernandez’s body was found, questions were raised about D4vd’s song lyrics including a track titled ‘Oh Celeste,’ rumoured to be about a girl he was dating.
While his later release Afterlife, which came out after the victim went missing, references a girl he believed would make him happy.
Victim first goes missing
Hernandez was first reported missing in April 2024, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the Los Angeles Times.
Her case, however, didn’t gain national attention until a medical examiner confirmed the victim’s body was found inside the Tesla registered to the singer on September 8, 2025.
Hernandez would have turned 15 the day before her body was found.
Hidden clues in D4vd’s songs
In 2022, D4vd released a song called Romantic Homicide. The accompanying music video showed a bloodied woman in a white dress.
“In the back of my mind I killed you and I didn’t even regret it,” the lyrics state.
“I can’t believe I said it but it’s true, I hate you.”
A year later, he wrote a song titled Celeste – the same name of the victim. While the track was never officially released, it was leaked online and was rumoured to be about his partner.
“Oh, Celeste, the girl with my name tattooed on her chest,” the lyrics state.
“Smell her on my clothes like cigarettes, I hear her voice each time I take a breath. I’m obsessed.”
In April 2025, D4vd released a new album titled Withered, which featured a song titled Afterlife.
The first verse of the track talks about a girl he thought would make him happy and something missing inside of him.
“The devil told me you were good for me, my mother told me he would lie,” the lyrics state.
On September 8, the same day police found Hernandez’s decomposed body, the singer shared he was releasing a deluxe version of the album that featured new collaborations.
“Every song written exclusively by me on my phone baby, this is a passion project I put together to make sure I didn’t lose the raw emotional weight my music carries and how much it means to u all,” D4vd posted on Instagram.
Discovery of the decomposed body
Police found the victim on September 8, 2025, in the trunk of the singer’s abandoned Tesla, which had been impounded at Hollywood Tow.
Officers were called to the lot over concerns about a foul odour coming from the vehicle, and found her decomposed body stuffed inside a bag.
D4vd was on tour when Hernandez’s remains were discovered and cancelled the rest of his performances after news about her death broke.
Boyfriend called David
In an interview with TMZ, the victim’s mum said she had a boyfriend named David (the singer’s real name is David Anthony Burke).
She also told the US outlet her daughter had a tattoo on her finger with the letters “Shhhh”.
D4vd reportedly also has the same tattoo located on his right index finger.
Arrested on suspicion of murder
On April 16, 2026, D4vd was arrested on suspicion of murder and held without bail before being formally charged on Monday.
The singer has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have vowed to fight the allegations.
Prosecutors filed charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse and mutilation of human remains following a news conference Monday with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
“I am a parent of three children, and a parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back,” Hochman said.
Hochman noted prosecutors are seeking three enhancements to the murder charge: lying in wait, financial gain and murdering a witness to an investigation.
A court date has been set for Thursday.
– With NBC