Disturbing new details were revealed in court filings as singer “D4vd” appeared before a judge, painting a gruesome picture of the case prosecutors are building against the singer in the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual acts, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old and mutilating the human remains of a body. He pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month. A legal brief from the prosecution says D4vd was the last person to drive his Tesla, where Celeste’s dismembered body was discovered in September 2025. He was reportedly last seen driving the vehicle on July 29, 2025, before he left Los Angeles for his tour. The court document also alleges D4vd ordered two chainsaws, a body bag and an inflatable pool on Amazon using a fake name. Investigators say fragments of that pool were found in cut wounds on Celeste’s body.
Prosecutors also wrote that D4vd traveled to a location in Santa Barbara County multiple times after Celeste’s death, including the night she was murdered, and a Caltrans worker later found the teen’s passport card discarded in that area in January of 2025. A preliminary hearing has been set for next month, where they will determine whether the 21-year-old should go to trial. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell spoke to ABC7 about the shocking nature of the case. That evidence is expected to be presented at the preliminary hearing. Witnesses will also be called.