Teen’s Death Ruled Homicide; Musician Charged
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The tragic case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl, took a grim turn as an autopsy report revealed that she died from penetrating wounds. The man charged in her murder has now been identified.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office classified her death as a homicide, and its details had been kept under wraps for several months. A judge initially sealed the report in November at law enforcement’s request, following disturbing findings—the girl was discovered dismembered inside bags in a Tesla parked in the Hollywood Hills last September.
Now, the charges against 21-year-old alternative pop singer D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, have surfaced. He faces first-degree murder charges along with accusations of lewd acts with a minor and mutilation of a corpse, though he has pleaded not guilty. Burke’s lawyer stated that he will fight to prove his client’s innocence.
Prosecutors allege that Rivas Hernandez was killed after she threatened to disclose a sexual relationship they had when she was just 13, which Burke feared might jeopardize his rising music career.
The criminal complaint claims Burke used a sharp object to kill her and afterwards dismembered her body about two weeks later.
The autopsy findings showed significant wounds on her torso, likely inflicted by a sharp object. Unfortunately, her remains had deteriorated to such an extent that the examiner couldn’t even ascertain her eye color. At the time of her death, she wore braces and had a tattoo that read “Shh…” located on the inside of her finger. Shockingly, two of her fingers and portions of her arms and legs were missing.
Dr. Oday C. Ukpo, the Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner, has highlighted the importance of maintaining independence from law enforcement in his role. He expressed that sealing operational reports wouldn’t assist with investigations, indicating a commitment to transparency. “I can’t believe we had to wait this long to find out what happened to our daughter,” he stated, expressing his relief to finally share the information with the public and Rivas Hernandez’s grieving family.
D4vd became a cultural phenomenon among younger audiences with his distinctive fusion of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop. He gained popularity on TikTok in 2022, especially with his hit “Romantic Homicide,” which climbed to No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Last year saw the release of his debut full-length album, “Wizard,” only two days after prosecutors suspected that Rivas-Hernandez had been murdered.
