Key facts
- Prosecutors presented final text messages from 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to singer D4vd (David Burke) during a court hearing.
- The texts revealed arguments and threats exchanged between Rivas Hernandez and D4vd before her phone went silent upon her arrival at his home.
- D4vd is accused of stabbing Rivas Hernandez to death after she arrived at his Hollywood home on April 23, 2025.
- The defense highlighted that no witnesses saw Rivas Hernandez enter the house or D4vd being present during the alleged time of death.
- Prosecutors allege D4vd dismembered Rivas Hernandez's body in his garage, with DNA evidence matching bloodstains found there.
- Rivas Hernandez's body was discovered in a Tesla registered to D4vd nearly five months later.
Prosecutors presented a detailed account of the final hours of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, including text messages exchanged with singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, during a court hearing to determine if he will face trial for her murder. The texts, read by Detective Corey Farrell, showed a stream of communication between Rivas Hernandez and Burke, culminating in her final message as she neared his Hollywood home in an Uber he had sent for her.
Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Rivas Hernandez to death upon her arrival on April 23, 2025. The previous night, they had argued via text, with Rivas Hernandez sending an angry message threatening his career and life. The defense, however, presented texts from Rivas Hernandez threatening to expose personal information about Burke and his mother. Defense attorneys also established that no witnesses saw Rivas Hernandez enter the house or Burke being present during the alleged time of death, and that Rivas Hernandez had repeatedly requested to see Burke before he agreed.
Detective Farrell testified that both families were aware of the relationship, which began when Rivas Hernandez was 11 and claimed to be 16 or 18. Prosecutors presented sexually explicit photos and text messages detailing their relationship, including an abortion Rivas Hernandez had at 13. Her body was found nearly five months later in a Tesla registered to Burke. Prosecutors allege Burke dismembered her body in his garage, where DNA evidence from apparent bloodstains matched her DNA. Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of a body.