A Los Angeles judge is currently reviewing evidence to determine if singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, will face trial for the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Recent court filings include text messages discussing pregnancies and abortions that occurred while the victim was only 13 years old.
The June 2024 texts regarding Celeste Rivas Hernandez's pregnancies
Evidence presented during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles highlights a disturbing communication trail between David Anthony Burke and Celeste Rivas Hernandez. According to court reports, text messages from June 2024 reveal that the then-13-year-old Rivas Hernandez questioned if a previous abortion had failed.. In these exchanges, David Anthony Burke, who was 19 at the time, apologized for "putting her through this," a phrase prosecutors suggest refers to the pregnancy.
The messages further indicate a level of coordination regarding the termination of pregnancies. One specific text from David Anthony Burke in June 2024 urged that the current abortion be the last one until they could have a "real one." The documents also show Burke seeking confirmation of his paternity, citing advice from his mother to ask if the child was his.
A body discovered in an impounded Tesla registered to David Anthony Burke
The gravity of the charges is anchored by the discovery of Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body, which the report says was found in September 2025. The body was located in the trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to David Anthony Burke.. This discovery led to charges that include not only murder but also the mutilation of a body and the sexual abuse of a child.
Despite the severity of these claims, several critical details remain absent from the current reporting. it is not yet clear what the specific cause of death was for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, nor have the details regarding the "mutilation" charge been publicly elaborated upon. Furthermore, there is a confusing discrepancy in the reported timeline, as the source notes the body was found in September 2025, yet David Anthony Burke was arrested in April 2025.
The alleged trade-off between a music career and a 14-year-old's silence
Prosecutors are framing this case as a calculated act of violence driven by the desire to protect a public image. As reported in the court documents, the prosecution alleges that David Anthony Burke sexually abused the minor and subsequently murdered her when she threatened to expose the abuse. The motive, according to the state, was to prevent the scandal from jeopardizing Burke's rapidly growing music career.
This case echoes a broader, systemic pattern where high-profile figures in the entertainment industry leverage power imbalances to exploit minors . the dynamic described here—an adult artist and a young teenager—reflects a recurring theme of predatory behavior often shielded by the promise of fame or the threat of professional ruin. For the public, the case serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of children in the orbit of burgeoning celebrities.
The legal status of David Anthony Burke since his April 16 arrest
David Anthony Burke has been held without bail since his arrest on April 16, 2025. While his legal team has consistently maintained his innocence and noted that no grand jury indictment had been filed at the time of his arrest, the preliminary hearing that began on July 21 is the critical next step. The judge must now decide if the prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to move the case to a full trial.
The defense continues to assert that David Anthony Burke was not reponsible for the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. However,the introduction of the 2024 text messages provides the court with a concrete timeline of the relationship and the alleged abuse that preceded the victim's death.
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