Why prosecutors say D4vd allegedly killed Celeste Rivas Hernandez

Prosecutors in Los Angeles County say D4vd killed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to keep their relationship from destroying the alt-pop career he built on TikTok. Court filings lay out a timeline that stretches from 2023 through the discovery of her remains in September 2025. The case now centers on first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of human remains.

Discovery in an impounded Tesla

Workers at a Los Angeles impound lot opened the front trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd on September 8, 2025. Inside they found the dismembered remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old from the Inland Empire. The car had been towed earlier after a traffic stop while D4vd was on tour supporting his debut album.

An autopsy later listed the cause of death as multiple penetrating injuries. Investigators quickly linked the vehicle to the singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke. The discovery shifted the case from a missing-person report to a homicide investigation within days.

News of the find spread fast on social media, where fans had followed D4vd’s rapid rise since 2021. The contrast between his public image and the condition of the body produced immediate online speculation. Prosecutors later used that same timeline to build their case.

Alleged motive to protect his career

Court documents state that D4vd killed Celeste Rivas Hernandez to silence her before she could expose their relationship. Prosecutors allege the relationship began when she was 13 and that discovery would have ended his touring schedule and label support. The filing describes the killing as a calculated move to avoid career-ending fallout.

Messages recovered from phones and cloud accounts reportedly show the singer discussing the risks of continued contact. Prosecutors tie those conversations to the period when his single “Here with Me” climbed the Billboard Hot 100. They argue the pressure to maintain momentum created the motive for murder.

Defense attorneys have not yet offered a public response to the motive claim. D4vd pleaded not guilty at his April 2026 arraignment. The prosecution’s narrative now rests on the combination of timeline, digital evidence, and the condition of the remains.

Chainsaw dismemberment and concealment

Prosecutors allege D4vd used chainsaws inside a rented garage to dismember the body after the killing. Receipts and surveillance footage reportedly show the purchase of a body bag and heavy-duty plastic sheeting in the days that followed. Investigators say these steps were meant to delay identification and hinder the investigation.

Phone records place D4vd near the garage location on multiple nights in late August 2025. Prosecutors claim the dismemberment was completed before he resumed tour dates in early September. The filing describes the process as methodical rather than spontaneous.

Defense filings have challenged the chain of custody for some physical evidence. Prosecutors counter that video and purchase records independently corroborate the timeline. The concealment phase remains one of the most detailed sections of the charging documents.

Child sexual abuse material on devices

Search warrants executed after the arrest turned up what prosecutors call a significant amount of child sexual abuse material on D4vd’s phone and iCloud account. The material dates back to at least 2023, overlapping with the start of the alleged relationship. Prosecutors present the images as evidence of ongoing exploitation rather than isolated possession.

Investigators also recovered chat logs they say show D4vd soliciting and storing explicit content involving minors. The filing links these files to the same devices used to communicate with Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors argue the pattern demonstrates a sustained interest that preceded the murder.

The presence of the material has drawn renewed attention to D4vd’s earlier online activity. Fans who followed his TikTok rise have revisited old posts and livestreams for context. Prosecutors treat the digital evidence as both motive support and corroboration of the abuse charges.

Grand jury presentation and charges

A Los Angeles County grand jury heard the case over several weeks in early 2026 before returning an indictment. Prosecutors presented the “silence” motive, the physical evidence from the Tesla, and the digital records in a single narrative. The grand jury returned charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of remains.

The indictment lists specific dates and locations tied to both the relationship and the concealment efforts. Prosecutors used cell-site data to place D4vd and the victim together on multiple occasions. The filing also includes purchase records for tools and supplies used after the killing.

D4vd’s legal team has requested additional discovery and filed motions to suppress some digital evidence. Hearings on those motions are scheduled for later this year. The prosecution maintains that the grand jury record already meets the threshold for trial.

Timeline from 2023 to 2025

Prosecutors trace the relationship to 2023, when Celeste Rivas Hernandez was 13 and D4vd was 18. Court documents cite messages, location data, and witness statements that place the two together during that period. The timeline continues through the release of D4vd’s debut album and into the summer of 2025.

By August 2025, prosecutors say D4vd had decided the relationship posed an unacceptable risk to his career. They point to deleted messages and internet searches about body disposal as evidence of planning. The final alleged contact between the two occurred days before the body was placed in the Tesla.

Investigators have interviewed friends and family members who noticed changes in the victim’s behavior during 2024 and 2025. Some reported that she had mentioned knowing a musician but offered few details. Prosecutors treat these statements as supporting context rather than direct evidence.

Media coverage and public reaction

The case has drawn coverage from both entertainment and true-crime outlets since the September 2025 discovery. Early reports focused on the Tesla connection and D4vd’s rising profile. Later filings shifted attention to the motive and the child sexual abuse material allegations.

Social media platforms have hosted competing narratives, with some users questioning the strength of the digital evidence. Others have called for a boycott of D4vd’s music pending the outcome of the trial. Streaming numbers for his earlier singles have fluctuated since the charges became public.

Local news stations in Los Angeles and Houston have carried statements from the victim’s family. Prosecutors have not released additional details beyond the court filings. The case continues to generate discussion in both music and crime communities.

Defense position and upcoming proceedings

D4vd’s attorneys have maintained a not-guilty plea and have not presented an alternative theory of the crime in open court. They have questioned the reliability of some cell-site data and the handling of digital evidence. Additional motions are expected before a trial date is set.

Prosecutors have indicated they will seek to introduce the child sexual abuse material at trial as evidence of motive and pattern. The defense has signaled it will challenge the admissibility of that material. Both sides are preparing for extended pretrial litigation.

The case remains in the pretrial phase with no firm trial date announced. Prosecutors continue to describe the killing as planned and deliberate. The defense has not yet addressed the “silence” motive in public statements.

Next steps in the case

The prosecution’s theory now rests on the combination of motive, digital records, and physical evidence recovered from the Tesla. Hearings on evidence motions will determine what reaches a jury. Any trial is still months away.

Observers in both the music industry and legal community are watching how the case affects streaming platforms and label support for similar emerging artists. D4vd remains in custody without bail. The outcome will depend on how successfully each side presents its version of events from 2023 through 2025.