A Los Angeles judge has ruled there is sufficient evidence for singer D4vd to stand trial in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The decision came after a four-day preliminary hearing in which prosecutors presented evidence of murder and child sexual abuse charges. D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty.
During the hearing, prosecutors revealed that Burke had engaged in a sexual relationship with Rivas Hernandez beginning when he was 18 and she was 13. Text messages presented in court showed that Rivas Hernandez became pregnant and later obtained an abortion. In a January 2024 message, Burke apologized for "putting her through this," and Rivas Hernandez responded that neither of them could care for a baby. She was 13 at the time.
The teenager appeared deeply affected by the abortion. In an August 2024 text, she wrote to Burke that she had "killed my kid for you" and expressed sadness about the situation, saying she would do anything to have the baby back. Prosecutors argue Burke fatally stabbed Rivas Hernandez in April 2025 to prevent her from revealing details of their sexual relationship as his music career advanced.
Evidence presented during the hearing included explicit photographs the pair had taken of each other. A detective testified about the images while Rivas Hernandez's parents briefly left the courtroom. The prosecution also showed text messages in which Burke referenced encounters with police and suggested the couple elope to Italy.
In February 2024, Burke told police officers he believed Rivas Hernandez was 18 years old, according to video presented earlier in the week. One message showed Burke writing that he could not wait to move in together without "the cops bitching baby."
The autopsy revealed that Rivas Hernandez died from multiple penetrating injuries. The medical examiner identified two stab wounds, one to her abdomen that struck her liver and another to her left chest that damaged her ribs. The doctor noted that the teenager's remains did not show hesitation marks typically associated with self-inflicted injuries.
Rivas Hernandez's body was discovered last September in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, approximately five months after prosecutors allege he killed her. The remains were significantly decomposed, making it difficult to determine the exact time of death.
The preliminary hearing serves as a threshold to establish probable cause. The standard of proof required at this stage is lower than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard needed for conviction at trial. Burke will now face a full criminal trial before a jury, who will determine his guilt or innocence. The trial date has not yet been set. If convicted, he could face a significant prison sentence.