21-year-old singer-songwriter D4vd was transferred to the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail on Monday (April 20) and has reportedly been placed in segregation.
As reported by TMZ, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that due to the high-profile nature of D4vd’s case, he has been placed away from other inmates at the facility. D4vd was arrested in the murder of 14-year-old Celetes Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed body was found in the front trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to him, last week (April 16). It was later reported that he was charged with murder seven months after the teen’s body was found in his car and could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Prosecutors have also accused D4vd, real name David Burke, of engaging in a sexual relationship with the teen before she was murdered. At a press conference following his arrest, led by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, it was alleged that D4vd engaged in “continuous sexual acts—lewd and lascivious sexual acts—with an individual under 14 years old.” Authorities also alleged that he mutilated her remains.
The murder of Rivas Hernandez was described as “brutal” and “horrific” by Hochman.
“The special circumstances being lying in wait, committing this crime for financial gain, or murdering a witness in an investigation,” he said, noting that D4vd was the subject of an investigation in which the victim, Rivas Hernandez, was a witness.
“When [Celeste Rivas] threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car,” Hochman said. “There the dismembered body sat for over four months decomposing until it was found at a tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025. This horrific and gruesome murder committed by the charged sexual predator is shocking and appalling. To Celeste’s loved ones, we will get the justice you seek and deserve.”
D4vd has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Prosecutors have indicated they have 40 terabytes of evidence against the singer. The singer’s attorneys, meanwhile, have argued that evidence will show their client “did not murder” Rivas Hernandez.
