CONTENT WARNING: This article includes information about abuse and the discovery of human remains, which may be distressing for individuals with a history of sexual violence or those who know someone impacted by it.
A statement from prosecutors on Wednesday revealed that singer D4vd allegedly murdered 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez through multiple stabbing incidents.
According to a legal filing from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, new details emerged on Wednesday, outlining the alleged attempts to dismember Rivas Hernandez’s body and eliminate evidence.
The court document stated that D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, initiated a sexual relationship with Rivas Hernandez when she was 13 and he was 18. Allegedly, he murdered her after she threatened to expose their inappropriate connection, fearing it would harm his music career.
“In an effort to prevent the victim from disclosing damaging information that could jeopardize his career, the defendant fatally stabbed her shortly after she arrived at his residence, allowing her to bleed to death.”
Rivas Hernandez’s decomposing body was discovered inside a Tesla that was towed from the Hollywood Hills in September of the previous year.
Text Message Evidence
Investigators retrieved text messages exchanged between Riva Hernandez and D4vd on April 22, 2025, the night before her phone activity ceased, leading them to suspect her demise. They also found child sexual abuse images of her on his phone.
“The messages indicate the victim’s jealousy over the defendant’s interactions with other women, as he falsely led her to believe they had a future together. When she discovered the truth, she became enraged and threatened to expose their relationship, intending to ruin his life and career,” the legal filing stated.
The document detailed that Burke purchased two chainsaws online, allegedly using them to dismember her body in an inflatable pool. Prosecutors claim that the girl’s DNA was traced to his garage, the presumed site of the dismemberment.
“The defendant took extreme measures to dismantle and dispose of the victim’s remains,” prosecutors asserted in the statement.
When the body was found, it was in an advanced state of decomposition, making it impossible for examiners to determine certain physical characteristics like her eye color. Notably, she had braces at the time of her death and a tattoo on a finger reading “Shhh….” along with his name. Several body parts, including fingers, arms, and legs, were missing.
Prior to this disclosure, prosecutors had not elaborated on the circumstances surrounding Rivas Hernandez’s death or the nature of her relationship with the accused. An autopsy report confirmed that she died from penetrating wounds.
Rivas Hernandez’s parents reported her