The doctor who performed the autopsy on 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez detailed her fatal injuries Friday during a hearing to determine if singer D4vd should face trial in her killing. Dr. Grant Ho of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner testified that Rivas Hernandez died from two sharp force wounds to her upper body. Her dismembered and decomposing body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla.
The preliminary hearing, which began Tuesday, will assist a judge in deciding whether the case proceeds to trial. Rivas Hernandez's parents were not present in court on Friday, though they had attended earlier proceedings. D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, was present in court, seated with his legal team.
Rivas Hernandez's body was found in a Tesla towed from the Hollywood Hills in September, nearly five months after authorities believe she was killed. Ho stated that the condition of the body made it extremely difficult to determine the exact time of death, estimating only that she had been deceased for "at least weeks," and potentially four to five months. Authorities believe she was killed in April 2025, and her body was discovered last September, the day after she would have turned 15.
Ho described "skin defects" that could have been postmortem, but identified two wounds as potential stab wounds that caused internal trauma. One wound to the abdomen penetrated her liver, and another to the left chest damaged her ribs. Ho testified that such injuries would likely result in death within minutes, though he conceded it could potentially take up to an hour for fatal blood loss. Prosecutors allege that Burke "stood by while she bled out."
Prosecutors contend that Burke began sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez when she was 13 and he was 18. They allege he stabbed her to death when she threatened to expose their sexual history and jeopardize his career. Evidence presented includes a police analyst's testimony that DNA samples from apparent blood stains in Burke's garage matched Rivas Hernandez's DNA, supporting the prosecution's claim that Burke dismembered the body there.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of a body. His defense attorneys maintain his innocence. D4vd, an indie-pop singer with a significant online following, is known for songs and videos often featuring dark and violent themes. His 2022 breakthrough single was titled "Romantic Homicide."