D4vd Facing Serious Allegations in the Death of 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez Related to His Music Career
Prosecutors Allege Singer D4vd Stabbed 14-Year-Old in Attempt to Conceal Relationship
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, is facing serious charges in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. According to court documents filed on Wednesday, prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed Rivas Hernandez multiple times and then "stood by while she bled out," in an effort to prevent her from disclosing their relationship, which he feared would jeopardize his music career.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office detailed the grim evidence in this filing, asserting that Burke met Rivas Hernandez when she was just 11 years old and began sexually abusing her at the age of 13. The charges state that Burke killed her when she threatened to expose their inappropriate relationship.
"Knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened, very soon after her arrival at his home, defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out," the court document reads.
Rivas Hernandez’s decomposed body was discovered in a Tesla towed from the Hollywood Hills in September 2024, following her parents’ report of her missing. The investigation took a disturbing turn as prosecutors indicated that Burke attempted to dismember her body using chainsaws in an inflatable pool and sought to dispose of the evidence entirely.
Authorities uncovered text messages from April 22, 2024—hours before Rivas Hernandez’s phone activity ceased—revealing her jealousy over Burke’s relationships with other women and her threats to disclose damaging information about him. These messages, along with child sexual abuse images found on Burke’s phone, have provided critical evidence in the case.
Prosecutors stated, "Defendant took horrifying measures to destroy and discard the victim’s body," demonstrating the extent of the alleged crime. Forensic examinations of the remains indicated significant degradation, preventing even the identification of her eye color at the time of discovery.
Following an initial report of Rivas Hernandez missing in February 2024, Burke was briefly questioned by detectives but claimed to have only met her once and was unaware of her age. After she returned home, her parents restricted her cellphone usage, but Burke reportedly paid a friend $1,000 to provide Rivas Hernandez with a new phone to facilitate their communication.
As the allegations come to light, Burke has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other associated charges. His attorneys maintain his innocence, asserting that he did not cause Rivas Hernandez’s death. During a recent court session, they sought to have the filing sealed, but their request was denied by Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo.
The case highlights the tragic loss of a young life and raises significant concerns regarding the dynamics of the relationship and the actions that followed her death.
