The shocking criminal case against D4vd explained - what we know so far on 14-year-old Celeste Rivas' murder

The shocking criminal case against D4vd is drawing national attention. Prosecutors allege David Burke, known as D4vd, murdered 14-year-old Celeste Rivas after grooming her over time. Newly revealed court documents outline a timeline that prosecutors say shows planning and intent. The details, first reported by The California Post, continue to raise serious questions.

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How did investigators say the events unfolded?

According to prosecutors, the case centers on events in April 2025. Legal documents state that Burke arranged transportation for Rivas from her family home in Lake Elsinore to his residence in the Hollywood Hills.
Authorities allege that once she arrived, she was attacked and later died from her injuries. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death as “multiple penetrating injuries.”

Investigators believe actions taken in the days that followed were part of an effort to conceal the crime. Court filings describe a series of purchases made in the aftermath, including tools and materials ordered through various services. These transactions, prosecutors claim, were carried out under a false name, as per a report by The New York Post.

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What evidence have prosecutors presented so far?

Search warrants executed at Burke’s home in September 2025 reportedly uncovered physical evidence in a garage area. According to documents, investigators found biological samples that later matched Rivas through DNA testing.

Authorities also cited items linked to earlier purchases, including materials that they say connect to the alleged attempt to dispose of the body. The remains were eventually discovered on September 8, 2025, inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke.

Investigators say it took several months to determine the full cause and manner of death, which was finalized in December 2025, as per a report by The New York Post.

In addition, officials claim they collected a vast amount of digital evidence, including approximately 40 terabytes of data and information obtained through a wiretap. They also revealed that a co-conspirator named in the case has not been taken into custody.


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What does the case reveal about their relationship?

Documents referenced by investigators suggest that Burke and Rivas first came into contact in early 2022, when she was 11. Authorities allege that the relationship became inappropriate in late 2023, when Rivas was 13 and Burke was 18.

Rivas had been reported missing in February 2024, and during that time, detectives discovered contact between the two through her phone. When questioned, Burke reportedly said he was unaware she was a minor.

After Rivas was located, her phone was taken away by her family. However, investigators claim Burke continued efforts to stay in contact, including arranging for another phone to be delivered through a third party, as per a report by The New York Post.

Prosecutors also pointed to text exchanges before the incident, describing a dispute in which Rivas allegedly threatened to reveal details about their relationship. Investigators said, “She became extremely upset and threatened to disclose damning information about her relationship with defendant to end his career and destroy his life."

What charges and legal developments have followed?

Burke has been formally charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances. These include allegations of lying in wait, murder of a witness to an investigation, and murder for financial gain.
Additional charges include lewd and lascivious acts involving a minor under 14 and the unlawful handling of human remains.

Prosecutors argue that the financial gain element is tied to concerns that allegations involving a minor could have impacted Burke’s music career. They also noted that Rivas was considered a witness in an ongoing investigation related to those allegations.

Burke appeared in court for a procedural hearing, where his attorney raised concerns about sensitive evidence becoming public. He is currently being held at a detention facility in downtown Los Angeles.

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What have officials and the family said?

Authorities have emphasized the scale and seriousness of the investigation. They described a detailed process involving digital tracking, forensic analysis, and coordination across agencies. Rivas’ family, through their attorney Patrick Steinfeld, shared a statement following the release of the medical examiner’s findings:
“The Rivas Hernandez family is absolutely devastated by the findings contained in the Medical Examiner’s Report involving the horrible and gruesome death of their beloved daughter.”

The case remains ongoing, with Burke’s preliminary hearing scheduled to begin Friday. As proceedings move forward, prosecutors are expected to continue presenting evidence gathered during the months-long investigation.

FAQs

What charges is David Burke facing?
He faces first-degree murder and multiple additional charges tied to the case.

Has D4vd admitted guilt?
No, he has pleaded not guilty to all charges.