WARNING: Readers may find details in this article distressing.
During a pre‑trial hearing in Los Angeles, prosecutors revealed text messages exchanged between 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez and singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd. The messages show that Celeste was pregnant when the texts were sent in mid‑2024, and that she had already undergone an abortion.
Burke, who was 19 at the time and had met the teen online when she was 11, allegedly began sexually abusing her from the age of 13. Prosecutors claim he killed Celeste to prevent her from disclosing the abuse and its potential impact on his music career.
The court heard that a week before Celeste’s body was discovered in the boot of Burke’s Tesla in September 2025, the two had argued over his relationships with other women. DNA evidence from a blood sample collected at Burke’s Hollywood Hills home matched Celeste’s, while photographs on his phone allegedly captured her during the alleged abuse.
After the discovery of Celeste’s remains the singer’s worldwide tour was cancelled, and he largely withdrew from social media. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has filed seven charges against him, including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child and mutilation of remains. The verdict is pending, with further testimony expected next week.
