LOS ANGELES — Legal authorities in Los Angeles County announced Wednesday that recording artist D4vd fatally attacked 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez with a knife in what they describe as a calculated murder.
The District Attorney’s Office revealed new details in court documents Wednesday, outlining what prosecutors claim is evidence showing the musician’s attempts to destroy the victim’s remains and eliminate proof of the crime.
According to the filing, D4vd, legally known as David Burke, first encountered Rivas Hernandez when she was just 11 years old, initiated an illegal sexual relationship when she turned 13 while he was 18, and murdered her after she threatened to expose their illicit affair.
“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.”
Authorities discovered her decomposing remains inside a Tesla vehicle that had been towed from the Hollywood Hills area last September.
Investigators recovered text communications between Burke and the victim from April 22, 2025 — the final day before her phone went silent and officials believe she was murdered.
“The messages reveal the victim’s jealousy over defendant’s relationships with other women, as defendant led her to believe they had a future together. She became extremely upset and threatened to disclose damaging information about her relationship with defendant to end his career and destroy his life,” the document says.
Court papers allege Burke purchased two chainsaws through online retailers, which he then used to dismember the teenager’s body inside an inflatable swimming pool. Investigators reportedly discovered the girl’s DNA evidence in Burke’s garage, where they believe the dismemberment took place.
“Defendant took horrifying measures to destroy and discard the victim’s body,” prosecutors said in the brief.
The victim’s remains had deteriorated so severely that medical examiners could not identify basic physical characteristics like eye color. At the time of her death, she wore dental braces and had gotten a tattoo reading “Shhh…” on her finger along with Burke’s name, according to official reports. Two fingers were absent from the body, along with portions of her arms and legs.
Until now, prosecutors had not publicly outlined their theory of how Rivas Hernandez died or provided specifics about her connection to the defendant. Medical examination results indicated she died from stab wounds.
Burke has entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder charges and additional counts. His legal representatives maintain his innocence and deny he caused Rivas Hernandez’s death.
Defense lawyers requested that Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo seal the prosecution’s filing during Wednesday’s hearing, but the judge rejected their motion. The attorneys declined to speak with reporters after court proceedings.
