Fortnite star D4vd charged with first-degree murder

Hochman accused Burke of committing murder “for financial gain,” and specified that the witness was Celeste Rivas, who was a minor and in an alleged sexual relationship with Burke. Los Angeles Police Department chief of police Jim McDonnell said that the condition of Rivas’ body made it difficult for medical examiners to gather evidence, explaining the long window between Rivas’ body being discovered and the arrest of Burke. The DA said that a “thorough” and “rigorous” investigation was done of digital and forensic evidence to determine the charges. A coroner’s report will be released to the public sometime soon, the DA said.

In late September 2025, the remains of a teenage girl, Celeste Rivas, were discovered in a Tesla registered to Burke; at the time, Rivas, 13, had been reported as missing for over a year. A medical examiner determined that Rivas’ body was inside the vehicle for an “extended period of time,” according to the New York Times. The car was towed into an impound lot in Los Angeles following a complaint of a foul odor emanating from the apparently abandoned car. Previously, the two were spotted together at D4vd’s concerts as well as in a Twitch live stream. A TMZ report claimed that Burke and Rivas were dating and had matching tattoos. The case and its gruesome nature have attracted much media attention, in part due to speculation that the singer’s work referenced his alleged crimes through somber lyrics and dark anime imagery.

As reported by CNN, Burke’s attorneys say that case evidence will prove that the singer was “not the cause of her death,” and that they are prepared to “vigorously defend David’s innocence.”

Burke is currently being held in custody without bail. Following Burke’s arrest on Thursday, Celeste’s father, Jesus Rivas, told the New York Times, “Thank God … justice for Celeste.”

In 2024, Epic Games released D4vd-themed emotes and jam tracks for Fortnite that are still present in the game, but have not been put back on sale since the discovery of Rivas’ body. Epic Games did not immediately respond to a request for comment.