Celeste Rivas Hernandez Met D4vd When She Was Just 11, Began Sexual Relationship 2 Years Later: Prosecutors

A disturbing case has emerged involving a teenage girl whose dismembered remains were discovered in a Tesla owned by the musician known as D4vd. The victim, identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was only 14 years old when her body was found in the vehicle’s front trunk on 8 September 2025. The accused, 21-year-old David Anthony Burke, facing multiple serious charges including murder and child sexual abuse, maintains his innocence.

Details from a preliminary hearing brief indicate that Rivas and Burke met in January 2022 when she was just 11. Prosecutors allege that Burke began a sexual relationship with Rivas when she turned 13 in November 2023 while he was already 18 years of age. Following the discovery of Rivas’ remains, Burke was charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

Burke has entered a plea of not guilty and is currently held without bail as he awaits trial. According to court documents, Rivas was reported missing by her family in both February and April 2024, prompting law enforcement to investigate her last known contacts. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department identified Burke’s phone number in Rivas’ records and reached out to him on 17 February 2024.

During the interaction, Burke claimed to have last seen Rivas on 13 or 14 February but professed ignorance regarding her status as a minor or the fact that she had been reported missing. Furthermore, detectives conducted a welfare check at Burke’s home and informed him that Rivas was a runaway. Interestingly, Burke produced a yearbook photograph of Rivas from his phone, despite asserting that he barely knew her.

Following her return home two days later, prosecutors allege that Burke contacted Rivas and paid a junior high student $1,000 to deliver a cell phone to facilitate ongoing communication. Court filings suggest that Rivas travelled extensively with Burke to places such as Las Vegas, London, and Texas. Over the summer of 2024, she reportedly spent weekends at his residence in Hollywood Hills.

Text messages exchanged between the two are said to include references to sexual matters, pregnancy, abortion, and the Plan B emergency contraceptive, indicating the troubling nature of their relationship. District Attorney Nathan Hochman alleges that Burke murdered Rivas on 23 April 2025, shortly after the girl threatened to expose his alleged wrongful acts, which would have severely damaged his music career.

An autopsy on Rivas revealed that she died from “multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s),” leading to a classification of her death as a homicide. Her remains were discovered fragmented and concealed in two separate bags inside Burke’s impounded Tesla.

With regard to the gravity of the charges, Burke faces a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole, or even the death penalty, although the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has yet to confirm whether they will pursue capital punishment in this case.

Defending Burke, his legal team, which includes prominent attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, publicly denied any responsibility on his part for the girl’s death. They asserted their intent to vigorously defend his innocence, setting the stage for what is anticipated to be a contentious trial.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 26 May, with a status conference set for 12 May to discuss the next steps. The case has drawn considerable media attention and sparked discussions around the protection of minors and the alarming implications of adult-child relationships.

In the wake of this tragic incident, there is a growing call within the community for increased awareness and preventive measures against child exploitation and abuse. As this story unfolds, it serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young individuals and the critical need for vigilance in safeguarding their well-being.