Gen Z-Favorite Singer Arrested on Murder Charges After Girl's Body Found in Car

American singer-songwriter David (d4vd) has been arrested by police on charges of murder in connection with the case of a 14-year-old girl who was found dead in his car last year.

According to Yonhap News, citing the Associated Press, the Los Angeles (LA) police announced in a statement on the 17th (local time) that David was arrested and detained as part of the investigation into the murder case.

The police explained that they plan to hand over the investigation materials to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office by the 20th, which will review whether to proceed with prosecution.

David has been under a confidential investigation in connection with the death of the 14-year-old girl that occurred in September of last year. The LA police responded to a report of a foul smell coming from a car stored at a tow yard and discovered a decomposed body in the trunk.

Singer-songwriter d4vd. Photo by AP Yonhap News

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The body was later identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez (14), who had been reported missing since April 2024. The girl was brutally murdered, and her body had been left in the vehicle for an extended period, resulting in severe decomposition.

The car in which the body was found had been towed after being left abandoned in a residential area in Hollywood, and the owner was identified as David. At the time, an LA Police Department spokesperson stated that no theft report had been filed for David’s car.

Initially, police classified David as a witness in the early stages of the case. However, in February, when the LA County District Attorney requested grand jury testimony from David’s family, it became known that he was a subject of the investigation.

American singer d4vd. Photo by AFP News Agency

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There were also circumstantial indications that Celeste and David were in a romantic relationship. It became widely known that the tattoo on the victim’s finger matched the design used by d4vd, and that David had an unreleased song titled ‘Celeste’-the same as the victim’s name-raising suspicions about their relationship.

However, David’s side has categorically denied all charges. His legal team has maintained that he did not kill the girl and that he is innocent. At the time the body was discovered last year, David was in the midst of releasing his first studio album and conducting a North American and European tour.

David, a singer-songwriter from Houston, has gained attention primarily among younger audiences. He is known for his unique blend of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop, which has made him particularly popular among Generation Z. He also held a concert in Korea in November 2024.

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