Prosecutors in Los Angeles allege that US singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to death after she threatened to expose their relationship and ruin his music career. According to court documents filed on Wednesday, prosecutors claim that Burke met Hernandez when she was just 11 years old and began sexually abusing her when she turned 13.
Key Takeaways
Prosecutors allege US singer D4vd stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to death after she threatened to expose their relationship and ruin his music career. Court documents claim Burke met Hernandez when she was 11, began abusing her at 13, and used chainsaws and a burn cage to dispose of her body.
Hernandez's body was found decomposing in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke last September, nearly five months after her death. Prosecutors allege that Burke purchased tools online, including chainsaws, an inflatable blue pool, a body bag, and a shovel, under a fake name to dispose of Hernandez's body. They also claim he used a "burn cage" as part of his plan to incinerate evidence.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and mutilating a corpse. His defense attorneys have maintained that Burke is innocent and did not cause Hernandez's death. They argued in court on Wednesday for the sealing of the nine-page filing detailing the evidence against Burke, citing concerns about media coverage affecting his right to a fair trial.
The preliminary hearing, during which prosecutors will present much of their evidence against Burke, has been delayed until late May due to the voluminous amount of discovery in the case. Judge Charlaine Olmedo agreed there was "good cause" to delay the hearing a few weeks. Burke is also scheduled to appear for a status hearing on May 12.
Prosecutors allege that Hernandez's family reported her missing multiple times in 2024, and she traveled with Burke to Las Vegas, London, and Texas during their relationship. They claim that text messages between the two reveal an argument over Burke's relationships with other women, leading to Hernandez threatening to expose damaging information about their relationship.
Burke rose to fame on TikTok with viral hits like "Romantic Homicide" and "Here With Me." His worldwide tour was canceled after his arrest earlier this month. The case has garnered international attention since the body was found in September 2025.
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