Prosecutors presented a moment-by-moment account of the final hours of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, detailing text messages exchanged with singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, before her phone went silent upon her arrival at his home on April 23, 2025. The evidence was shown during a hearing to determine if Burke, 21, will stand trial for her killing.
According to prosecutors, Rivas Hernandez sent her last text message around 10 a.m. as an Uber, which Burke had reportedly sent, neared his Hollywood residence. The message read: “girly pop i’m almost there open ur door if ur home.” Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed her to death as she entered the house.
The previous night, the two had an argument via text message regarding Burke's relationship with another woman. Rivas Hernandez sent a profane text stating she would inform her father about him and declared, “i will end ur career and ur life.”
Detective Corey Farrell of the Los Angeles Police Department presented texts obtained from warrants on Burke's iPhone and iCloud accounts. The hearing, presided over by Judge Charlaine Olmedo, will conclude with a decision on charges of murder, sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of a body against Burke, who has pleaded not guilty.
Defense attorneys highlighted that no witnesses saw Rivas Hernandez enter the house, nor were there cameras capturing Burke's presence there during the time prosecutors claim the murder occurred. The defense also presented other texts from Rivas Hernandez that contained threats to contact Burke's mother and friends and to "leak" information about them.
Farrell testified that Rivas Hernandez never threatened to involve the police or pursue legal action. He also stated that her parents were aware of the relationship, had consented to her traveling to London with Burke for a week, and that Burke had attended church with members of her family. Farrell acknowledged that in early communications, Rivas Hernandez misrepresented her age to Burke, stating she was 16 when she was 11, and at other times claimed to be 18.
After her phone became inactive, Burke sent Rivas Hernandez several messages inquiring about her whereabouts and expressing concern, which prosecutors suggest were sent as a cover-up after her death. Both the prosecution and defense concluded their questioning of Farrell, the final witness, and prepared for closing arguments.
Prosecutors allege Burke dismembered Rivas Hernandez's body in his garage, presenting testimony from a police analyst who stated that DNA samples from apparent blood stains in the garage matched the victim's DNA. Her body was discovered nearly five months later in a Tesla registered to Burke.
Earlier in the hearing, Detective Farrell described sexually explicit photos of Burke and Rivas Hernandez found on his phone, along with messages indicating she had an abortion in 2024 at age 13 after becoming pregnant by Burke. Some less graphic photos shown in court depicted the couple kissing, and Rivas Hernandez with a tattoo of "David" on one of her fingers, which had been cut off when her body was found. The graphic nature of some described photos caused Rivas Hernandez's mother to leave the courtroom in tears on a previous day of the hearing.
David Burke, known as D4vd, gained online fame as a teenager for his music, which blends indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop. His songs have garnered billions of plays on platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud. In 2024, he performed at the Coachella music festival and released his first full-length album, "Withered," two days after the alleged time of Rivas Hernandez's death.