CONTENT WARNING: The following article contains information on abuse and details of human remains which may be distressing for individuals who have experienced or known someone affected by sexual violence.
During a court hearing in Los Angeles County, prosecutors presented a body-camera footage where singer D4vd informed sheriff’s deputies, investigating a missing person’s case, that he had met Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was 13 at the time, once and claimed he was unaware of her age.
In the video from February 2024, D4vd stated, “She told me she was 18,” despite others informing him of her true age.
Prosecutors alleged that D4vd, also known as David Burke, engaged in a sexual relationship with the underage girl for several months. They claimed that he fatally stabbed her 14 months later after she threatened to expose their relationship, potentially damaging his career.
The court hearing aims to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial against Burke, now 21, on charges including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Burke has pleaded not guilty, with his defense asserting that he did not cause the girl’s death.
Photo evidence of the dismembered and decomposing body of Rivas Hernandez was presented, discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard by a homicide detective on September 8, 2025.
Los Angeles Police Department Detective Joshua Byers testified to finding the victim’s head, torso in a body bag, and limbs in a garbage bag, with two fingers missing from one hand.
Rivas Hernandez’s parents, along with reporters and members of the public, attended the court session obtained through a lottery drawing.
L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Juan Gonzalez, whose body-camera footage was shown, testified that Burke was cooperative during the investigation in 2024, allowing a search of the residence owned by Interscope Records.
Burke disclosed meeting Rivas Hernandez online, showing photos of her, and sharing her contact information with authorities. The preliminary hearing is anticipated to last around four days, with Judge Charlaine Olmedo determining the trial’s progression based on the evidence presented.
Prosecutors alleged that Burke initiated the abuse when Rivas Hernandez was 13, eventually escalating to her tragic death after she threatened to expose him, as outlined in court filings.
Further details indicated Burke’s involvement in dismembering the victim’s body and attempts to conceal evidence, leading to his arrest after months of investigation.
The defense has yet to offer public statements on the case, with the court proceeding resembling a condensed trial format involving key witnesses and evidence presentation.
D4vd’s rise in the music industry, from creating content on YouTube to performing at major festivals, juxtaposed against the allegations of his involvement in the tragic incident, has garnered significant public attention and scrutiny.