Disturbing new details about singer D4vd’s alleged involvement in Celeste Rivas murder emerge
Warning: This article contains distressing content, details of death and discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
Prosecutors have put forward worrying new details in their case against US singer D4vd.
It comes after the Los Angeles Police Department arrested the 21-year-old star on 16 April in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The body of Celeste was discovered in the trunk of a vehicle owned by the rapper in September. The car, a Tesla, had been moved to a Hollywood tow yard after seemingly being abandoned in an upscale neighbourhood in the hills.
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The discovery was made by police after they received reports of a 'foul odour' being emitted from inside the car.
Celeste had disappeared from her Lake Elsinore, California home in April 2024 at the age of 13, and she was identified by her wavy black hair and an 'Shh' finger tattoo.
A spokesperson from the Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that the teen had been 'deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found' by police.
Following his arrest, D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail and has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other counts. His lawyers have said he is innocent and did not cause Celeste’s death.
Now, new disturbing details about the allegations against the singer have been released in an evidence filing, as per the BBC.
Prosecutors allege that Burke met Celeste when she was just 11, and claim that he started sexually abusing her when she was 13 and he was 18.
They have accused the singer of killing 14-year-old Celeste by stabbing her 'multiple times' before dismembering her body using chainsaws in his garage.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office provided the first detailed allegations of the killing in court papers, as well as efforts to cut apart the girl’s body and get rid of evidence.
Burke is accused of killing the teen when she threatened to reveal their inappropriate relationship.
The filing said: "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, (the) defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out."
Prosecutors said they had obtained text messages that allegedly showed their sexual relationship, including child sexual abuse images of her on the singer’s phone.
"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," the document says.
It continues: "She became extremely upset and threatened to disclose damaging information about her relationship with defendant to end his career and destroy his life."
The filing said he sent a rideshare car to pick her up on the night of 23 April 2025 from her home town of Lake Elsinore, which is roughly 80 miles outside of Los Angeles.
The two allegedly exchanged messages until she arrived at his Hollywood home, after which her phone went silent permanently.
Prosecutors allege that D4vd sent Celeste a late-night message asking where she was, in an attempt 'to cover up the murder'.
For context, this court filing is intended to outline the evidence that prosecutors plan to present at a preliminary evidentiary hearing beginning 26 May, when a judge will determine whether there is probable cause to go to trial.
Burke’s defence team is yet to publicly provide its version of events.
The document alleges Burke bought two chainsaws online used them to cut apart her body in an inflatable pool in his garage, where the girl’s DNA was later found.
Prosecutors said in the brief: "Defendant took horrifying measures to destroy and discard the victim’s body."
It's alleged that Burke drove to Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County, about 110 miles north-west of his home, to get rid of evidence three times - this where Celeste's passport was found in January.
On 24 April, the day after her death, the singer gave a radio interview and had a record-release party promoting his debut full-length album, Withered, which was released the following day, prosecutors said.
It is alleged he kept her body in his Tesla, and lied to friends and business associates who asked about the smell.
As well as first-degree murder, Burke faces charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 and mutilating a dead body.
He is eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors said they have not decided whether to seek it.
Madison Burgess