D4vd Murder Case: Family of 14-Year-Old Victim Celeste Rivas Hernandez Reacts to Gruesome California Court Filing
Why It Matters
A California murder case involving rising music artist D4vd has drawn widespread attention after prosecutors revealed disturbing new details in a court filing, leaving the family of 14-year-old victim Celeste Rivas Hernandez devastated and publicly silent. The case raises urgent questions about child protection, exploitation by individuals in positions of cultural influence, and the pursuit of justice for a young girl whose alleged abuse began when she was just 11 years old.
What Happened
David Anthony Burke, 21, who performs under the stage name D4vd, is charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, and mutilating a corpse in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenager from Lake Elsinore, California. A court brief filed Wednesday by Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman laid out a detailed account of the alleged crimes for Burke’s upcoming preliminary hearing.
According to the filing, Burke allegedly lured Hernandez to his Hollywood rental mansion via an Uber ordered on the night of April 23, 2025. Prosecutors allege he stabbed her and allowed her to bleed to death following a heated argument during which Hernandez threatened to expose their relationship and damage his music career. Her badly decomposed body was later discovered in the trunk of Burke’s Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard in September 2025.
The court brief further alleges that Burke used an inflatable pool in the garage to contain Hernandez’s remains while he dismembered her body using a chainsaw and possibly other tools. Prosecutors allege he also cut off two of her fingers to eliminate a tattoo bearing his name. Bits of plastic from the inflatable pool were reportedly found embedded in Hernandez’s remains, according to the filing.
The family’s attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, released a statement saying the family was “shocked and horrified” by the details made public this week. “There are no words to express the indescribable pain the family is experiencing right now,” Steinfeld said on behalf of the Rivas Hernandez family. He described delivering the details to the family as the most difficult moment of his 37-year legal career. The family has since decided not to make any further public statements.
By the Numbers
- Age of victim at time of alleged abuse onset: 11 years old
- Age of victim at time of death: 14 years old
- Age of defendant: 21 years old
- $1,000: The amount Burke allegedly paid a junior high school student to give Hernandez a new phone after her parents confiscated her device in 2024
- Preliminary hearing date: Tentatively scheduled for May 26
Zoom Out
The D4vd case reflects a broader and deeply troubling pattern of adults in entertainment and social media exploiting their platforms to gain access to minors. Law enforcement agencies across the country have increasingly flagged the use of money, gifts, and travel as grooming tactics, particularly in cases involving young girls targeted through digital communication.
California prosecutors have been at the forefront of charging public figures with crimes against minors, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office under Nathan Hochman has publicly committed to transparency in this case. The filing notes that Riverside County sheriff’s investigators questioned Burke about Hernandez’s whereabouts as early as February 2024, but he denied knowing she was a minor or that she had been reported missing. Southern California has seen several high-profile criminal cases involving public figures in recent months, underscoring the region’s complex intersection of celebrity culture and law enforcement.
The case also highlights gaps in the system for tracking missing children who repeatedly run away from home. Hernandez was reported missing multiple times in 2024 before her death.
What’s Next
Burke’s preliminary hearing is tentatively set for May 26, at which prosecutors will present evidence to a judge to determine whether sufficient cause exists for Burke to stand trial. Defense attorney Blair Berk has maintained that her client did not kill Hernandez and has not yet responded to the latest court filing.
Prosecutors allege Burke purchased a shovel, two chainsaws, a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, a burn box, and a blue inflatable pool as part of a scheme to dispose of Hernandez’s body — items that are expected to be central to the evidentiary proceedings. Los Angeles continues to grapple with significant public safety and accountability challenges as the city navigates a pivotal period under its current leadership.
The Rivas Hernandez family, through their attorney, has asked for privacy as they grieve. “All they want is time to grieve and heal,” Steinfeld said.