Pop vocalist D4vd faces evidentiary hearing in murder of teenage girl
Pop vocalist D4vd faces evidentiary hearing in murder of teenage girl
Bharatmorningnews.com – Los Angeles prosecutors are set to present their case against David Burke, the 21-year-old indie pop artist known by his stage name D4vd, during an upcoming evidentiary hearing. The musician is accused of fatally stabbing and dismembering his 14-year-old girlfriend, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, after she threatened to reveal their relationship to the public.
Accusations and Charges
Burke, who gained prominence in 2022 through viral TikTok videos featuring his self-recorded songs, faces multiple charges including first-degree murder, mutilation of human remains, and child sexual abuse. The evidentiary hearing, which could span several days, will determine whether there is enough evidence to move forward with a trial. According to court records, Burke was arrested in April and linked to the disappearance of Rivas Hernandez, who vanished in April 2025.
Authorities discovered her severely decomposed body five months later inside the trunk of an abandoned car owned by the singer. The prosecutors allege that Burke killed the girl to silence her after she grew jealous and threatened to expose their relationship, which began when she was 11 years old.
Timeline of Events
Two days prior to the murder, Burke had quarreled with Rivas Hernandez over her intentions to reveal their affair. The next day, he hailed an Uber to transport her to his Hollywood Hills residence, where he stabbed her to death. An autopsy confirmed her death was caused by “multiple penetrating injuries.”
Prosecutors claim Burke’s motive was to prevent her from jeopardizing his rising music career. His first studio album was scheduled for release during the week of the incident, and he had recently secured lucrative product endorsements. The DA’s office also filed special allegations, accusing Burke of committing murder for financial gain and of eliminating a witness to a crime.
“We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez, nor was he the cause of her death,” stated defense attorney Blair Berk during Burke’s April 20 arraignment.
Forensic Evidence
Investigators found text messages referencing sexual activity, pregnancy, and Plan B emergency contraception, as well as sexually explicit photos. Prosecutors added that Burke had purchased a blue inflatable pool, two chain saws, a shovel, and a cadaver bag online under a false identity, using them to dismember and conceal the victim’s remains.
After the killing, Burke’s torso and head were discovered in a cadaver bag inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to him. Beneath the body lay a plastic garbage bag containing her limbs. Two fingers from her left hand, one bearing his name as a tattoo, were missing but not recovered.
The vehicle, which was abandoned near Burke’s home on July 29, 2025, was later towed to an impound lot. Workers noticed a foul odor of decay and notified authorities on September 8. A search of his garage that month uncovered blood samples and remnants of the inflatable pool, showing “multiple linear cuts” consistent with the dismemberment process.