Rising pop singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, is set to stand trial for the murder, child sexual abuse, and mutilation of human remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors in Los Angeles county allege Burke stabbed Celeste to death and severed her limbs to prevent her from revealing their sexual relationship, which reportedly began in November 2023 when Burke was 18 and Celeste was 13.

Text messages presented at a preliminary evidentiary hearing show the two had been in contact since 2022, when Celeste was 11 years old. The relationship was described as rocky and clandestine. In June 2024, Burke allegedly wrote to Celeste, "i can’t wait to move in tg without the cops bitching baby," according to Courthouse News.

Celeste had become pregnant with Burke's child in January 2024 and underwent an abortion, which she later regretted, telling Burke in August 2024, "I don’t like talking about it because it gets me really upset, but I’d do anything to have it back."

Celeste had been reported missing by her family prior to the discovery of her mangled and decomposing body last September, which was found stuffed in an impounded car registered to Burke.

Los Angeles county district attorney Nathan J Hochman stated, "What was presented by our office over the course of the last week is a small but illustrative fraction of the evidence investigators have accumulated that proves defendant Burke is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. This has been a parent’s worst nightmare, hearing the ghoulish details of how their child was killed, dismembered and left as trash."

The case has drawn significant attention on social media, especially in online communities where Burke had a presence as a gamer before his music career.

Sources