CONTENT WARNING: This article contains information regarding abuse and the discovery of human remains that may be distressing to individuals with a history of sexual violence or those connected to such experiences.
According to prosecutors, singer D4vd fatally stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office disclosed detailed allegations in a court filing on Wednesday, outlining efforts to dismember Rivas Hernandez’s body and conceal evidence.
The legal document stated that D4vd, also known as David Anthony Burke, engaged in sexual abuse with Rivas Hernandez starting when she was 13 and he was 18. Allegedly, he murdered her after she threatened to expose their inappropriate relationship, fearing it would harm his music career.
Her body, in an advanced state of decomposition, was discovered in a Tesla vehicle towed from the Hollywood Hills in September last year.

Discovery of Text Messages
Prosecutors obtained text messages exchanged between Riva Hernandez and D4vd on April 22, 2025, the night before all communication ceased, indicating her potential demise. They also found child sexual abuse images of her on his phone.
“The messages depict the victim’s jealousy regarding defendant’s interactions with other women, as he falsely led her to believe in a shared future. Feeling betrayed, she threatened to expose damning details about their relationship, intending to ruin his career and life,” as per the legal filing.
The document revealed that Burke purchased two chainsaws online, allegedly used to dismember her body in an inflatable pool. Prosecutors claim to have found the girl’s DNA in his garage, where they suspect the dismemberment took place.
“The defendant took extreme actions to eliminate all traces of the victim’s body,” prosecutors stated in their submission.
By the time her body was discovered, it had deteriorated to the point where her eye color couldn’t be identified. She had braces and a “Shhh….” tattoo on one finger, along with his name. Part of her body, including fingers, arms, and legs, was missing.
Previously, prosecutors had not elaborated on the circumstances of Rivas Hernandez’s death or their relationship. Nonetheless, an autopsy indicated she died from penetrating wounds.
Rivas Hernandez’s parents reported her missing from their Lake Elsinore residence, located approximately 130 kilometers from Los Angeles, in February 2024. Following this report, Riverside County Sheriff’s investigators contacted Burke, who claimed to have only met her once and was unaware of her age
