Singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, faces charges of first-degree murder and sexual abuse following the April 23, 2025, death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege Burke killed and dismembered the teen in his Hollywood Hills garage to protect his multi-million dollar music career from the exposure of their relationship.
The legal proceedings against the 21-year-old musician have transitioned from a missing persons case to a gruesome homicide investigation. Burke, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains, was arrested on April 16 after a months-long probe. The case centers on the discovery of Rivas Hernandez’s remains in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, which was impounded from a Hollywood tow yard on September 8, 2025.
Evidence of a Secret Relationship and Abortion
During a preliminary hearing in July, the Los Angeles Police Department presented a digital trail recovered from Burke’s iPhone and iCloud account. LAPD Detective Corey Farrell testified that the records document a sexual relationship that began in November 2023, when Rivas Hernandez was 13 and Burke was 18 or 19. The evidence includes a large collection of child sexual abuse material and explicit images that prosecutors deemed too graphic to display in open court.
The messages reveal a cycle of pregnancy fears and medical interventions. In early January 2024, texts show Rivas Hernandez underwent an abortion. In one exchange, Burke apologized for putting her through this
, to which she replied that neither of us are capable of watching and taking care of the baby
. Burke’s responses were often controlling; he urged her to track her menstrual cycle via an app, texting, I just need to make sure ur on top of ur shit
.
I killed my kid for you
.
The April 23 Homicide and Dismemberment
The prosecution’s timeline places the murder on or about April 23, 2025. According to District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Burke arranged for a car to pick up Rivas Hernandez from her home in Lake Elsinore, California. Dr. Grant Ho, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, testified that the cause of death was multiple penetrating injuries, consistent with a stabbing.
The methods used to conceal the crime were particularly clinical. Prosecutors allege Burke used a blue inflatable pool in his garage to prevent blood from spilling onto the floor while he dismembered the body with a chainsaw. To further hide the identity of the victim, Burke allegedly amputated her left ring and pinky fingers because her ring finger bore a tattoo of his name.
“There was an image of Celeste’s torso and her head in the trunk of the car, and the prosecutor had to ask what it was because you could not tell it was a head. It was absolutely deplorable.”
Patrick Steinfeld, Attorney for the Rivas Hernandez family
Financial Stakes and “Lying in Wait”
The charges against Burke include special circumstances that could lead to life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Specifically, the prosecution has alleged murder for financial gain. This is not based on a direct payment, but on the perceived threat to Burke’s lucrative music career. District Attorney Hochman stated that the financial gain was for Burke to maintain his professional standing, which was being threatened by the alleged abuse of a minor.
Additionally, the lying-in-wait allegation stems from the specific way Burke invited the teen to his home on the night of the murder. Because Rivas Hernandez was the key witness to the sexual abuse, she is also categorized as a victim of murdering a witness in a criminal investigation.
Recovery of the Tesla and Forensic Links
The body remained undiscovered for months, hidden in the “frunk” (front trunk) of a Tesla Model X. The vehicle was parked in the Hollywood Hills for over a month before being reported as abandoned and towed to a yard. On September 8, 2025—one day after Rivas Hernandez would have turned 15—tow yard workers reported a strong odor coming from the car. Officers discovered the remains in two cadaver bags, with severed limbs stored in a separate plastic garbage bag underneath.
Forensic evidence strongly ties the crime scene to the singer’s home. A police analyst testified that blood stains found in Burke’s garage matched the DNA of Rivas Hernandez. Furthermore, surveillance video and other evidence confirm that Burke was the last person to drive the Tesla on July 29, 2025, shortly before he left Los Angeles to begin a concert tour.
Legal Status and Next Steps
The preliminary hearing, which began on July 21, serves as the mechanism for Judge Charlaine Olmedo to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a full trial. While Burke’s defense team maintains his innocence, the prosecution has presented a combination of digital records, forensic DNA, and purchase histories—including orders for body bags and chainsaws placed under an alias—to build their case.
The case now hinges on the finality of the preliminary hearing’s findings. If the judge finds probable cause, Burke will face a trial where the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will decide whether to seek the death penalty. For the family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the proceedings have been an ordeal of “unseeing” graphic evidence in a public forum while seeking justice for a daughter who disappeared in the spring of 2025.
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