Celeste Rivas Hernandez: What prosecutors allege now
The April 29, 2026 court filing lays out prosecutors’ clearest account yet of what happened to Celeste Rivas Hernandez. It details an alleged relationship that began when she was eleven, turned sexual when she was thirteen, and ended with her death at fourteen inside a Los Angeles home. The document ties those events to specific purchases, messages, and disposal steps.
Meeting and early contact
Prosecutors say Celeste Rivas Hernandez met singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, in January 2022. She was eleven at the time and living in Lake Elsinore. The filing traces how the two kept in touch through the following year.
According to the document, the contact became physical once Celeste Rivas Hernandez turned thirteen. Prosecutors allege the encounters took place at locations linked to Burke while he was eighteen. They cite phone records and later statements as the basis for those dates.
The filing notes that Celeste Rivas Hernandez remained in regular communication with Burke through 2024. Prosecutors present this period as the time when the alleged pattern of control and secrecy took shape.
Last known movements
Prosecutors state that Celeste Rivas Hernandez was last seen alive on or around April 23, 2025. They allege she traveled to Burke’s residence that day. The filing describes the trip as the final confirmed movement before her death.
Phone data in the document shows messages between the two in the hours leading up to her arrival. Prosecutors claim those exchanges included threats from Celeste Rivas Hernandez to expose the relationship. They argue this created the alleged motive.
The filing places the time of death shortly after her arrival at the home. Prosecutors describe the sequence as rapid once she entered the property.
Alleged attack
Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Celeste Rivas Hernandez multiple times in the abdomen and chest. The court document states that he remained present while she bled out. They describe the attack as intended to prevent her from disclosing the relationship.
The filing notes that the wounds were ruled the cause of death by the medical examiner. It adds that the attack occurred inside the residence and produced significant blood evidence later addressed through cleanup steps.
Prosecutors present the timing as tied directly to the threat of exposure. They argue the decision to kill followed immediately from the messages sent earlier that day.
Concealment steps
The document outlines purchases made after the alleged killing. Prosecutors say Burke bought two chainsaws, a body bag, a shovel, an inflatable pool, and laundry bags online under a false name. They link the timing of those orders to the days following April 23.
According to the filing, the inflatable pool was used in the garage to contain blood during dismemberment. Prosecutors cite blue plastic fragments recovered with the remains as evidence of that process.
The filing further alleges that Burke amputated several fingers, including one bearing a tattoo of his name. Prosecutors note that this finger has not been recovered and treat its removal as part of the concealment effort.
Body discovery
Prosecutors state that the remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez were found on September 8, 2025. They were located in the front trunk of an impounded Tesla Model X registered to Burke. The vehicle had been towed earlier in the summer.
The filing records that the body was already decomposed and partially dismembered when recovered. Prosecutors tie the condition of the remains to the alleged use of the chainsaws and the garage cleanup.
They note that the discovery occurred months after the alleged murder. The document presents the delay as evidence of the concealment plan outlined in the earlier purchases.
Messages after death
Prosecutors allege Burke continued to send messages to Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s phone after she was dead. They describe these texts as attempts to create a record suggesting she was still alive. The filing treats the messages as part of the cover-up.
The document cites the content and timing of the texts as inconsistent with the known facts of her death. Prosecutors argue the pattern shows intent to mislead anyone checking her phone later.
They connect these messages to the broader concealment steps that included tool purchases and disposal planning. The filing presents them as one element in a sequence rather than isolated actions.
Disposal location
Prosecutors allege Burke transported parts of the body to a remote site in Santa Barbara County. They state that he used the shovel purchased online to bury evidence there. The filing links tire tracks and tool marks at the site to the alleged timeline.
The document notes that some remains were left in the Tesla while others were taken to the burial location. Prosecutors argue this split approach was intended to reduce the chance of full recovery.
They present the choice of a distant site as further evidence of planning. The filing ties the location to the online orders made under the false name.
Additional charges
Beyond the murder count, prosecutors charge Burke with continuous sexual abuse of a child under fourteen and lewd acts with a person under fourteen. The filing lists these as separate from the homicide allegations but connected through the same alleged relationship.
The document also includes a charge of mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors cite the dismemberment and finger removal as the basis for that count.
They add a special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed to prevent the victim from testifying. The filing frames this as tied to the threats Celeste Rivas Hernandez allegedly made in the days before her death.
Current case status
Burke was arrested April 16, 2026 and charged four days later. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail. The preliminary hearing is now scheduled for late June or early July 2026.
The filing of April 29 stands as the most detailed public account prosecutors have released. It organizes the alleged timeline, purchases, messages, and disposal steps into one narrative for the court.
Future proceedings will test these claims against defense evidence. For now, the document provides the clearest outline of what prosecutors allege happened to Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Next developments
The preliminary hearing will determine whether the case moves to trial on the full set of charges. Prosecutors will likely present additional records and witness statements at that stage. The filing from April 29 serves as the foundation for those upcoming arguments.
