AceShowbiz - D4vd, the singer whose legal name is David Burke, stands accused of fatally stabbing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to prevent her from exposing their illicit relationship, according to a court filing made public by Los Angeles prosecutors on April 29.

The detailed allegations describe a chilling sequence of events that began with Burke meeting Rivas Hernandez when she was 11 years old, then sexually abusing her starting at age 13, while he was 18. Prosecutors say the killing occurred after the teenager threatened to reveal their inappropriate relationship, which she believed would destroy his music career.

“Knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened, very soon after her arrival at his home, defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out,” the court document states.

Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14, and mutilation of a corpse. His defense team maintains his innocence and denies his involvement in Rivas Hernandez’s death.

The victim’s decomposing body was discovered inside a Tesla that had been towed from the Hollywood Hills in September 2025. Prosecutors say they have obtained text messages from Burke’s phone that confirm the sexual relationship, including images of child sexual abuse.

According to the filing, the messages revealed Rivas Hernandez’s jealousy over Burke’s relationships with other women and how he misled her into believing they had a future together. This led to her becoming “extremely upset and threatened to disclose damaging information about her relationship with defendant to end his career and destroy his life.”

The court document outlines that on the night of April 23, 2025, Burke sent a rideshare to pick up Rivas Hernandez from her hometown of Lake Elsinore, approximately 80 miles (129 km) from Los Angeles. The two exchanged messages until she arrived at his Hollywood residence, after which her phone ceased all activity.

Prosecutors also allege that Burke sent a late-night text asking where she was in an attempt to cover up the crime. The filing is part of the evidence prosecutors intend to present at a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 26, where a judge will decide if there is enough probable cause to proceed to trial.

Furthermore, Burke allegedly purchased two chainsaws online and used them to dismember Rivas Hernandez’s body in an inflatable pool in his garage. The girl’s DNA was found at this location, prosecutors say.

“Defendant took horrifying measures to destroy and discard the victim’s body,” the filing states.

Burke reportedly traveled three times to Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County, about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northwest of his home, to dispose of evidence. Her passport was found there in January 2026.

On April 24, the day after the alleged murder, Burke gave a radio interview and held a release party for his debut full-length album Withered, which officially dropped the next day, prosecutors claim.

The filing also alleges that Burke kept Rivas Hernandez’s body in his Tesla and lied to friends and business associates who questioned the odor emanating from the vehicle.

The victim’s remains had decomposed to the point where examiners could not determine her eye color. She had braces at the time of death and bore a tattoo that read “Shhh ....” on the inside of a finger, along with Burke’s name. Two fingers, as well as parts of her arms and legs, were missing.

Prosecutors had not previously disclosed the manner of Rivas Hernandez’s death or details of the relationship. An autopsy confirmed she was killed by penetrating stab wounds.

Her parents first reported her missing from Lake Elsinore in February 2024. After this initial report, Riverside County Sheriff’s detectives questioned Burke, who claimed he had only met her once and was unaware she was a minor.

Following her brief return home in February, Rivas Hernandez’s parents confiscated her cellphone. Nevertheless, Burke allegedly drove to her hometown and paid $1,000 to a friend to provide her with a new phone so they could maintain contact.

She was reported missing again in April 2024. The court filing indicates that year, she spent significant time at Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence and traveled with him to Las Vegas, London, and Texas to meet his family.

During a hearing on April 29, Burke’s defense requested that the court seal the filing, but Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo declined. The defense declined to comment publicly after the hearing.

Burke was arrested on April 16 and has entered a plea of not guilty. Prosecutors have indicated he could face the death penalty, though they have not confirmed whether they intend to seek it.

The singer first gained attention with music he created for YouTube videos featuring the video game Fortnite during his teenage years. His songs, a mix of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop, made him a viral sensation on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Spotify, where his 2022 breakthrough track “Romantic Homicide” has been streamed over a billion times.

In 2023, he released two EPs and served as an opening act for SZA on tour. He also performed at the Coachella music festival just weeks before prosecutors say Rivas Hernandez was killed and his album was released.

At the time the body was discovered in September 2025, Burke was actively touring to promote his debut album. His name became publicly linked to the case months before his arrest in April 2026.