D4vd and Celeste Rivas Hernandez: timeline of their relationship
The murder case against alt-pop singer D4vd has turned a private relationship into a matter of court record. Prosecutors have laid out a timeline that stretches from an initial meeting in 2022 to the discovery of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains in 2025. That chronology now sits at the center of charges that include first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
Early meeting in Houston
David Anthony Burke, who performs as D4vd, was born in Queens and raised in Houston. He first crossed paths with Celeste Rivas Hernandez in January 2022. At the time she was eleven years old.
The introduction occurred before Burke had released any major music. His later TikTok virality had not yet begun. Court filings treat the date as the documented start of contact between the two.
Burke turned seventeen that March. Celeste remained a child. No public evidence shows further meetings that year.
Breakthrough year for D4vd
Burke’s song “Romantic Homicide” went viral on TikTok in 2022. Streaming numbers followed, and labels began outreach. He signed deals and prepared a debut project while still based in Texas.
The music schedule kept him on the road and in studios. Celeste lived in the same metro area, but records do not indicate regular contact during this stretch. The age gap remained eight years.
By the end of 2023, Burke was preparing to turn eighteen. Prosecutors later noted that the relationship shifted into alleged sexual contact that November.
Alleged sexual relationship begins
Court documents state the sexual relationship started in November 2023. Celeste was thirteen. Burke was eighteen. Prosecutors describe the contact as ongoing from that point.
Both were in Texas at the time. Burke’s rising profile meant occasional travel for shows and press. Celeste attended school locally. The filings do not list third-party witnesses to the early encounters.
Public discussion at the time centered on Burke’s music rather than his personal life. No contemporary reports mentioned Celeste.
Shared travel and family visits
Throughout 2024 the pair spent weekends at Burke’s residence and took trips together. Court papers cite visits to Las Vegas, London, and locations in Texas. Burke introduced Celeste to members of his family during one of those stops.
His schedule also included festival appearances and early tour rehearsals. Celeste’s movements were tied to school breaks. Prosecutors have used phone records and travel receipts to map the pattern.
Media coverage of D4vd that year focused on streaming milestones and video releases. The relationship stayed private outside immediate circles.
Relationship ends but contact continues
November 2024 marks the date prosecutors say the romantic relationship ended. Communication and alleged sexual contact did not stop. The filings describe continued meetings through the following months.
Burke released his debut album Withered in April 2025. A world tour was booked for later that summer. Celeste remained in contact during the rollout period.
Neither party posted about the other on social media. Fans tracking D4vd’s career had no visible indication of the personal timeline.
Last confirmed sighting
April 23, 2025 is listed as the last day Celeste was known to be alive. She was at Burke’s rented home in the Hollywood Hills. Phone data places her there that evening.
Burke left for tour dates shortly afterward. Celeste did not return to her usual locations. Family members filed a missing-person report weeks later.
At that stage, coverage of D4vd remained focused on ticket sales and set lists. The disappearance stayed outside public view.
Discovery of remains
On September 8, 2025, authorities located human remains inside the trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to Burke. Dental records identified Celeste. The car had been towed days earlier from a Los Angeles street.
Investigators traced the vehicle’s movements through license-plate readers and security footage. The discovery shifted the case from missing-person inquiry to homicide investigation.
News outlets began connecting the car to D4vd. Online discussion moved quickly from tour updates to questions about the relationship timeline.
Arrest and charges
Burke was arrested in April 2026. Prosecutors filed counts of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under fourteen, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He entered a plea of not guilty.
Preliminary hearings featured excerpts from the timeline above. Defense attorneys have challenged the chain of custody for certain records but have not disputed the listed dates of contact.
Industry statements have been limited. Streaming platforms continue to host his catalog while the case proceeds through the courts.
Public conversation moving forward
The documented timeline now supplies the factual frame for ongoing coverage. Court proceedings will test how each segment of contact is presented to a jury. Observers are watching for additional filings that could extend or clarify the record.
