Newly unsealed court filings have identified singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, as a target in a Los Angeles grand jury investigation connected to the death of a 14-year-old girl whose remains were discovered in September 2025.
The records, made public after members of the musician’s family were ordered to testify, state that prosecutors consider the 20-year-old artist a target in proceedings that could potentially involve one count of murder. As of now, D4vd has not been charged, formally named as a suspect or indicted. The grand jury investigation remains ongoing.
Below are three key developments that shed light on where the case stands.
What investigators say was discovered
According to the unsealed filings, on Sept. 8, 2025, authorities located the decomposed head and torso of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez inside a cadaver bag placed in the front trunk of a Tesla. The vehicle was registered to an address in Texas associated with D4vd, the documents state.
When investigators removed the first bag, they reportedly found additional remains, including severed arms and legs, inside another black bag.
Law enforcement had previously responded to reports of a foul odor at a Hollywood tow yard where the impounded Tesla was being stored. Officials have indicated that the condition of the remains suggested the teen had been deceased for several weeks before being discovered.
Rivas Hernandez, who was from Lake Elsinore, California, had been reported missing. A missing person flyer cited in earlier coverage said she was last seen in April 2024.
At the time the remains were found, D4vd was on tour following the release of his debut album earlier in the year.
Why D4vd’s family became involved
The court documents were unsealed after D4vd’s father, Dawud Burke, challenged a subpoena in Texas. Prosecutors in California had summoned him, along with the singer’s mother, Colleen, and brother, Caleb, to testify before the Los Angeles grand jury.
In filings tied to the Texas challenge, Dawud Burke argued that the subpoena violated his due process rights because portions of the California court notice were redacted. He also contested being compelled to travel across state lines to appear before a secret grand jury proceeding.
Court records indicate that Los Angeles Police Department detectives traveled to Texas to escort family members to California to testify. Prosecutors described their testimony as material and necessary to the investigation.
Grand jury proceedings are conducted behind closed doors, and details typically remain confidential unless charges are filed.
The unusual security hold and next steps
In November, the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office confirmed it had received a court order placing a security hold on the case. The order prevents public disclosure of specific findings related to Rivas Hernandez’s death, including the cause and manner of death.
Police requested the hold to ensure investigators would receive information from the medical examiner before any public release. The move has drawn attention because such holds are rarely used in other jurisdictions.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has declined to comment publicly on the matter.
D4vd has not issued a statement about the newly unsealed filings. Representatives for the singer previously said he was cooperating with law enforcement. His attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the release of the documents.
At this stage, no criminal charges have been announced. Being identified as a target in a grand jury investigation means prosecutors believe there is substantial evidence linking a person to a crime and that charges are possible, though not guaranteed.
For now, the case remains active and largely shielded from public view as the grand jury continues its review.
Source: BBC
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