D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is facing charges for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege the musician began abusing the girl when she was 13. The charges include murder and sexual abuse of a minor, to which Burke has entered a not guilty plea.
According to prosecutors, the motive for the killing lay in the singer's fear that his career would be ruined. It is alleged that Hernandez threatened to expose his abuse of a minor. In response to these threats, Burke is said to have killed the teenager to prevent the truth about his actions from coming to light.
Key evidence in the case includes text messages and iCloud data, presented in court in Los Angeles. The messages reveal that Hernandez was pregnant at the age of 13 and had already had an abortion before her death. Prosecutors state that the abuse began while the victim was a minor.
In January 2024, Burke sent a message to Hernandez in which he apologised for 'exposing her to that situation'. The girl responded to the apology by stating that neither of them was capable of looking after and caring for a baby. In the same exchange, Burke asked if the child was his, to which Hernandez confirmed that it was his child.
Further messages from June 2024 show that Hernandez asked what would happen if the first abortion had not been successful. Burke replied to her message, stating that the abortion was to be the last one before 'the real' one. These pieces of evidence were presented at a hearing where the judge was to decide whether the case would proceed to trial.
David Anthony Burke was arrested on 20 April 2026 in Los Angeles, California. The legal proceedings to determine guilt and further legal steps are ongoing, with the judge set to make a final decision on whether to proceed with a full murder trial.
