D4vd murder case: Teen victim’s family ‘shocked’ by gruesome details revealed in court filing – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels)
Los Angeles — Prosecutors recently unveiled horrifying details in the murder case against rising singer D4vd, leaving the family of 14-year-old victim Celeste Rivas Hernandez stunned, according to their attorney. The court document outlines allegations that the artist, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, stabbed the teen multiple times at his Hollywood Hills home before dismembering her body to cover up the crime.[1] Filed ahead of an upcoming preliminary hearing, the brief provides a meticulous timeline supported by texts, purchases, and forensic evidence, intensifying scrutiny on the high-profile case.
A Relationship That Turned Deadly
David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, first encountered Celeste Rivas Hernandez in January 2022 when she was just 11 years old. Prosecutors allege their interactions escalated into a sexual relationship by November 2023, at which point Celeste was 13 and Burke was 18.[1] The teen, from Lake Elsinore, reportedly spent weekends at his Hollywood Hills residence and accompanied him on trips to Las Vegas, London, and Texas.
Authorities noted earlier concerns when Celeste went missing from home in February 2024. Riverside County deputies informed Burke of her age and runaway status, yet contact persisted. He even paid a junior high school student $1,000 to deliver a phone to her after her parents confiscated her device.[1] Text messages referenced intimate encounters, including discussions of pregnancy and abortion, alongside explicit images.
The Night of the Alleged Murder
Tensions boiled over in late April 2025. On April 22, Celeste texted Burke expressing frustration: “All we do is have sex and just hang out man I want more than that for myself.”[1] The following day, amid jealousy over his other relationships, she threatened to expose their affair and “end his career.”
Burke arranged an Uber to bring her from Lake Elsinore to his home around 8:40 p.m. on April 23. She arrived by 10:10 p.m., but prosecutors claim he stabbed her repeatedly shortly after, standing by as she bled out without seeking medical help. He then texted her phone at 10:30 p.m. as part of a cover-up, drove north on the 101 Freeway that night, and attended a radio interview the next morning to promote his album.[1]
Alleged Cover-Up and Body Disposal
The court filing details Burke’s subsequent actions to eliminate evidence. He ordered a shovel from Home Depot on April 24 and, days later on May 1, purchased two chainsaws on Amazon using a fake name. Additional orders included a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, and a blue inflatable pool on May 5—items prosecutors link directly to the crime scene.[1]
- Prosecutors say he placed Celeste’s body in the inflatable pool in his garage to contain blood, with blue plastic fragments embedded in her wounds matching the pool, which bore linear cuts.
- Dismemberment followed using the chainsaws; her left pinky and ring fingers, the latter tattooed with “D4vd,” were never recovered.
- Remains went into bags stored in his Tesla’s front trunk, where they decomposed for months.
- He visited a remote Santa Barbara County site near Lake Cachuma multiple times, and her passport card turned up discarded there in January 2026.
An autopsy confirmed death by multiple penetrating injuries, with certain drugs in her system. DNA matching Celeste appeared in his garage, alongside over 40 terabytes of digital evidence, including child sexual abuse material on his devices.[1]
From Discovery to Charges
Celeste’s dismembered remains surfaced in September 2025 inside Burke’s impounded Tesla, last driven by him on July 29 before his tour. She had been reported missing again in April, but the case lingered until his April 2026 arrest.[2][3] Burke faces first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, lewd acts with a child under 14, and corpse mutilation charges. He pleaded not guilty and remains held without bail.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell emphasized the gravity: “It’s a tragic life taken in a very brutal way.”[1] A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 26.
Family’s Anguish Amid Ongoing Proceedings
The revelations in the unsealed filing have deeply affected Celeste’s relatives, who learned of the stabbing, dismemberment, and disposal methods through public court records. Their attorney conveyed the family’s shock at the extent of the alleged brutality. As the case advances, questions persist about an updated death certificate noting uncertainty over pregnancy.
Burke’s defense sought to seal the brief but was denied, ensuring public access to the evidence prosecutors hope will secure conviction. The outcome could mean life in prison if found guilty. This development underscores the perils hidden behind celebrity facades, leaving a community to reflect on a young life cut short.