Prosecutors have revealed that singer D4vd's phone contained a 'significant amount' of child pornography, as new details emerge in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of killing the teenager, whose body was discovered in the trunk of his abandoned Tesla in a Hollywood tow lot last September.
Murder and Sexual Abuse Charges
The 21-year-old musician was in a sexual relationship with Rivas Hernandez and allegedly murdered her after she threatened to 'expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career,' according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. During a court hearing on Thursday, prosecutors alleged that D4vd's phone contained a significant amount of child pornography, part of the 40 terabytes of evidence gathered in the case.
Details of the Case
D4vd was arrested last week and charged on Monday with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his lawyers vowing to 'vigorously defend David's innocence.' The singer is accused of engaging in three or more acts of 'substantial sexual conduct' with Rivas Hernandez between September 2023 and September 2024.
Rivas Hernandez, from Lake Elsinore, California, was first reported missing in February 2024 when she was 13. Her family reported her missing multiple times before she vanished permanently in April 2025. District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that the teen was last seen entering D4vd's Hollywood Hills home.
Hochman expressed the horror of the situation, saying, 'I am a parent of three children, and a parent's nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back.'
Discovery of the Body
Rivas Hernandez's dismembered and decomposed body was found on September 8, 2025, the day after her 15th birthday, inside the trunk of the Tesla. An autopsy, released Wednesday, determined she died from 'multiple penetrating injuries' inflicted with a 'sharp instrument.' The medical examiner noted that the body was so degraded that her eye color could not be determined.
Background and Legal Proceedings
D4vd gained fame on TikTok in 2022 with his hit 'Romantic Homicide,' which reached No. 4 on Billboard's Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. His last two U.S. tour stops and European leg were canceled amid the investigation. He is currently held without bail, with a preliminary hearing set for May 1 to determine if there is enough evidence for trial. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.
