Prosecutors revealed on Wednesday that singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, allegedly fatally stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez multiple times. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, a court document filed on Wednesday outlined disturbing details of the case, including allegations of attempts to dismember Rivas Hernandez’s body and conceal evidence.
The court filing stated that D4vd met Rivas Hernandez when she was 11, began sexually abusing her at 13, and ultimately killed her when she threatened to expose their inappropriate relationship. The document described how D4vd allegedly silenced Rivas Hernandez to prevent her from damaging his music career by fatally stabbing her soon after her arrival at his residence.
Rivas Hernandez’s decomposing body was discovered in a Tesla vehicle towed from the Hollywood Hills in September of the previous year. Text messages retrieved by prosecutors from April 22, 2025, revealed Rivas Hernandez’s jealousy over D4vd’s relationships with other women and her threats to disclose damaging information about their relationship. Prosecutors also found child sexual abuse images of Rivas Hernandez on D4vd’s phone.
The court document detailed that Burke purchased two chainsaws online, which he allegedly used to dismember Rivas Hernandez’s body in an inflatable pool. Prosecutors stated that DNA evidence linking the victim to Burke’s garage supported their claim of the dismemberment taking place there. The report further mentioned the extreme measures taken by the defendant to destroy and dispose of the victim’s body.
Rivas Hernandez’s remains were in such a deteriorated state that her eye color could not be determined. The autopsy report indicated that she had braces and a tattoo that read “Shhh….” on one of her fingers, along with missing fingers, arms, and legs. Prosecutors previously had not disclosed the specifics of Rivas Hernandez’s death or the nature of her relationship with D4vd.
Burke pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and additional charges. His defense team sought to seal the court document, but the judge declined the request. The lawyers representing Burke did not provide any comments outside the courtroom.
If you are in immediate danger or facing safety concerns, please contact 911. If you are impacted by family or intimate partner violence, seek assistance through crisis lines and local support services.