**Charges Filed Against Musician in Connection with Teen’s Dismemberment**
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The case surrounding the tragic death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez has taken a dark turn, with the 21-year-old musician David Burke, who is known by the stage name D4vd, facing serious criminal accusations. He has been charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in relation to Rivas’ death.
Tragic developments began when the dismembered remains of Rivas were found in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla on September 8, 2025. Prosecutors allege that the singer murdered Rivas a few months prior, specifically on April 23, 2025, when he is said to have stabbed her multiple times. Following her death, he allegedly dismembered her body and disposed of it using items he procured online.
The timeline of events presented by prosecutors reveals disturbing details about Burke’s actions through the use of his online shopping habits. According to an eight-page preliminary hearing brief obtained by news sources, the musician ordered a shovel from Home Depot the day after the alleged murder. This item was reportedly delivered to his Hollywood Hills residence via Postmates. In total, he is accused of purchasing a shovel, chainsaws, a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, and an inflatable pool shortly after the incident under the alias Victoria Mendez.
The brief indicates that Burke’s purchases were likely planned to facilitate the disposal of Rivas’s remains, with evidence suggesting he attempted to prevent blood from staining his garage by placing her body in the inflatable pool. Further forensic analysis uncovered that small blue fragments found in the victim’s remains matched the inflatable pool he had bought.
Further allegations detail Burke’s attempts to destroy evidence. He reportedly ordered a burn cage from Amazon several months after the murder, further raising suspicions about his intent. The gruesome discovery of Rivas’s body was made when authorities uncovered two bags containing her dismembered limbs and torso in Burke’s vehicle, with her head concealed in a cadaver bag he allegedly purchased.
Notably, investigators found that Rivas’s left ring and pinky fingers were missing, which prosecutors allege Burke severed to distance himself from the victim. The ring finger had a tattoo bearing Burke’s name, leading them to suggest that this was a calculated effort to evade detection.
Police confirmed that they became aware of Burke’s involvement after successfully identifying Rivas’s remains. A search warrant executed at Burke’s residence on September 17 uncovered items consistent with the dismemberment and evidence of biological samples within the garage area. These samples were later determined to match Rivas’s DNA profile.
The troubling history between Burke and Rivas has also drawn attention, as court documents reveal that they met in early 2022 when she was just 11 years old. Prosecutors claim the pair entered into a sexual relationship in November 2023, when Rivas was only 13, and Burke was 18. The circumstances surrounding Rivas’ murder are believed to have been exacerbated by a heated argument regarding Burke’s relationships with other women just before the release of his debut album.
As Burke faces serious charges, he is looking at a substantial prison sentence if convicted, including the possibility of life without parole or even the death penalty. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has yet to announce whether they will pursue the latter option.
Burke’s legal representation, consisting of attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, has maintained his innocence, asserting that he “was not the cause” of Rivas’s tragic death and pledging to fight vigorously on his behalf. A preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on May 26, where further evidence will be presented.
The tragic case not only highlights the disturbing realities of youth and exploitation but also raises broader questions about the systems in place to protect vulnerable individuals from predatory behaviour. As further developments emerge, the community is left grappling with grief and outrage over the loss of a young life cut tragically short.