Musician D4vd, whose full name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, child sex abuse, and mutilation in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege that Burke, 21, murdered Rivas on April 23, 2025, fearing their relationship would damage his career. He is accused of fatally stabbing Rivas and then dismembering her remains in an inflatable pool in a Hollywood Hills garage. Evidence from the pool was allegedly found embedded in the victim's remains.

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Rivas' remains were discovered on September 8, 2025, in a Tesla registered to Burke. Prosecutors stated that "small, blue plastic fragments" from an inflatable pool were found in the victim's remains.

IMAGE5 D4vd, whose full name is David Anthony Burke, has entered pleas of not guilty to Rivas' murder, and charges of child sex abuse and mutilation in connection with her death.

Recent developments include clarification on Rivas' medical status at the time of her death. While an earlier death certificate addendum stated it was "unknown" if she was pregnant, sources close to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office now believe she was not pregnant. This follows a preliminary hearing where text messages suggesting Rivas was pregnant and had an abortion in January 2024 were presented. LAPD Detective Corey Farell testified that phone records from D4vd alluded to a 2023 pregnancy and the subsequent abortion, with Rivas reportedly confirming the paternity.

The investigation also uncovered images of child sexual abuse material involving Rivas on D4vd's phone, which prosecutors did not present due to their graphic nature. During Farell's testimony, Rivas' parents were present in the courtroom. Los Angeles Judge Charlaine Olmedo found sufficient evidence to proceed to trial and ordered D4vd held without bail. An arraignment is scheduled for August 31.

IMAGE3 D4vd was seen in a video donning a white shirt with red stains, indicating fake blood, in a video posted years prior to allegations he murdered teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The musician seen in a past clip next to shirts smattered with fake blood

Separately, a promotional clip from 2023 has resurfaced, showing D4vd wearing a white shirt with red stains, presented as fake blood. In the video, he is seen in a supermarket discussing washing out the stains, linking them to his song "Romantic Homicide." Promotional items associated with the song that featured fake blood were removed from sale in September 2025. Legal representatives for D4vd have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the clip.

IMAGE4 The musician pictured in Japan in May of 2025