Prosecutors in Los Angeles have revealed that singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, was in possession of a significant amount of child pornography at the time of his arrest for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The allegations emerged during court proceedings on Thursday, where Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman stated that law enforcement discovered the illicit images on Burke's iCloud account while executing a search warrant related to the homicide investigation.
Details of the Case
Burke, 21, was charged earlier this week with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The charges stem from the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered and decomposed remains were discovered in September in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke and abandoned in the Hollywood Hills. The teenager had been missing since April 23, 2025, when she visited Burke's home.
According to Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Burke engaged in a sexual relationship with Celeste that began when she was 13. Authorities believe Burke killed her to prevent her from reporting the relationship and to protect his music career. The criminal complaint alleges Burke used a sharp object to kill Celeste and then dismembered her body approximately two weeks later.
Legal Proceedings
Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense team maintains that he did not kill the girl and that evidence will demonstrate he was not the cause of her death. In an unusual move, Burke has exercised his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days of arraignment, pushing prosecutors to present their evidence quickly. A judge has set a hearing for next week where the prosecution is expected to lay out its case publicly.
Prosecutor Silverman acknowledged the eagerness to present evidence but noted the immense volume of materials involved, describing approximately 40 terabytes of data collected from Burke's phone, iCloud accounts, and other sources. She specifically cited the sensitive nature of the child sexual abuse material as a complicating factor in sharing evidence.
Victim's Remains and Family
The Los Angeles County medical examiner determined that Celeste died from penetrating injuries, including a wound that penetrated her liver. The condition of her remains delayed the determination of cause of death, and her body was so degraded that examiners could not determine her eye color.
Celeste's remains were found a day after she would have turned 15. Her family had reported her missing from their home in Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles from Los Angeles, in 2024. The seventh-grader had previously run away and returned home before leaving again.
On Tuesday, Celeste's parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, issued their first public statement, describing their daughter as a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. They expressed their deep love and loss, stating, All we want is justice for Celeste.
Support Resources
For those affected by child abuse, resources are available. In the US, the Childhelp abuse hotline can be reached at 800-422-4453. Adult survivors can find support at ascasupport.org. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support for children at 0800 1111 and for concerned adults at 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) supports adult survivors at 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children and adults can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or Bravehearts at 1800 272 831, while adult survivors can reach the Blue Knot Foundation at 1300 657 380.
