D4vd might face the loss of life penalty after grotesque particulars emerged when the singer was charged with murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas — greater than seven months after the teenager’s dismembered physique was present in a Tesla linked to him.
D4vd, actual identify David Burke, was charged with first-degree homicide with particular circumstances — mendacity in wait, homicide of a witness to an investigation and homicide for monetary acquire — in an announcement made by Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman on Monday.
He’s additionally charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with a person beneath 14 years outdated, and mutilating a human stays of a physique.
The particular circumstance of homicide of a witness to an investigation is as a result of Rivas was a witness within the lewd and lascivious investigation. Officers say the homicide for monetary acquire circumstance was added as a result of they consider D4vd thought allegations of sexual relations with a minor might derail his music profession.
He faces a most sentence of life with out the potential of parole or occasion the loss of life penalty — which can be decided later.
Proof in opposition to D4vd consists of witness testimony and paperwork, in accordance with Hochman. He additionally requested different witnesses to return ahead throughout a press convention Monday. Hochman mentioned there’s digital, bodily and forensic proof investigators have additionally gathered.
The fees come only a few days after the singer was taken into custody at his Hollywood Hills dwelling by the LAPD’s robbery-homicide division Thursday. He was being held with out bail.
“We got here to the house with a possible trigger arrest warrant for him,” LAPD Theft-Murder Division Commanding Officer Captain Scot M. Williams confirmed to The California Put up on the scene.
Unique Footage obtained by The California Put up confirmed the performer in cuffs and surrounded by LAPD officers as he was escorted away from his Hollywood hideout.
Rivas’ dismembered physique was found at the back of a Tesla belonging to D4vd again in September after workers in a tow yard might scent a foul odor coming from the automobile. Rivas had beforehand been reported lacking by her household in April.
Shortly after the physique was found, D4vd canceled his remaining tour dates and went silent as on-line hypothesis continued to develop round D4vd’s doable relationship with Rivas — together with pictures that surfaced of the 2 collectively earlier than her disappearance.
Because the case continued to develop, extra horrifying particulars emerged concerning the situation by which Rivas’ dismembered physique was discovered — together with the actual fact her physique components had been dumped in two completely different cadaver luggage throughout the Tesla.
Cops discovered Rivas’ head and torso in a single bag and a number of other physique components in a second bag with bugs swarming over the stays, in accordance with paperwork unsealed in a Texas court docket.
D4vd’s authorized workforce launched a press release shortly after the singer’s arrest.
“Allow us to be clear — the precise proof on this case will present that David Burke didn’t homicide Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the reason for her loss of life. There was no indictment returned by any grand jury on this case and no felony grievance filed,” attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter mentioned in a joint assertion.
“David has solely been detained beneath suspicion. We’ll vigorously defend David’s innocence,” attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter mentioned in a joint assertion,” the assertion continued.
