Delayed Autopsy Report Details Gruesome Injuries in D4vd Murder Case
A long-awaited autopsy report has finally been released in the high-profile murder case involving musician D4vd, revealing that 14-year-old victim Celeste Rivas Hernandez died from "multiple penetrating injuries" before her body was dismembered and concealed.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Rivas Hernandez suffered two penetrating wounds to her torso that likely represent sharp force injuries. The report further details additional wounds that penetrated her liver and chest area, painting a grim picture of the violence that ended the teenager's life.
Decomposition Complicated Investigation
Medical examiners faced significant challenges during the autopsy due to what they described as "extensive postmortem changes" to the body. The decomposition was so advanced that investigators couldn't even determine the victim's eye color, and the examination was further complicated by missing body parts including two fingers and sections of her arms and legs.
"After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss," stated Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo in an official statement. "It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter."
Prosecutors Outline Alleged Motive and Timeline
According to court documents and statements from Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, D4vd—whose real name is David Anthony Burke—allegedly killed the teenager because she threatened to expose their sexual relationship, which prosecutors claim would have devastated his burgeoning music career.
"When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car," Hochman explained in a written statement.
The timeline presented by prosecutors indicates Rivas Hernandez was last seen entering D4vd's Hollywood Hills residence in April 2025 and was never heard from again. Her dismembered and decomposed remains were discovered in the trunk of the musician's apparently abandoned Tesla in a Hollywood tow lot last September—coincidentally, just one day after what would have been her fifteenth birthday.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
D4vd was arrested last week and has been charged with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and mutilating a body. The 21-year-old musician has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his defense team vowing to "vigorously defend David's innocence."
During his arraignment on Monday, D4vd's lawyer demanded a public preliminary hearing within ten days. The musician is currently being held without bail, and prosecutors retain the option to seek the death penalty in this case, despite California Governor Gavin Newsom's 2019 moratorium on executions.
Background and Investigation Challenges
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was first reported missing from Lake Elsinore, southeast of Los Angeles, in February 2024 when she was just 13 years old. Her family filed multiple missing persons reports over subsequent months as their search continued.
The medical examiner's office completed its examination of Rivas Hernandez's body last September and determined her cause and manner of death three months later. However, public release of these findings was initially blocked by a court order initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department, delaying transparency in the case.
D4vd rose to fame on TikTok in 2022 with his hit song "Romantic Homicide" and developed a substantial Gen Z following through his unique blend of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop. The ongoing investigation has already impacted his career, with his last two U.S. tour stops and his European leg being canceled.
As the legal process moves forward, the newly released autopsy details provide crucial evidence in what promises to be a closely watched trial, while offering some long-awaited answers to a grieving family who waited months to learn the full circumstances of their daughter's death.
