Singer 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 just 13 years old. The charges relate to murder and sexual abuse of a minor, to which Burke has entered a plea of not guilty.
According to prosecutors, the motive for the murder lay in the singer's fear that his career would be ruined. It is alleged that Hernandez threatened to reveal his child abuse to the public. In response to these threats, Burke allegedly 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, which were 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 stress that the abuse began while the victim was a minor.
In January 2024, Burke sent Hernandez a message in which he apologised for having "exposed her to that situation". The girl replied to the apology by stating that neither of them was capable of looking after and caring for a baby. In the same communication, Burke asked if the child was his, to which Hernandez confirmed it was his child.
Further messages from June 2024 show that Hernandez asked what would happen if the first abortion was unsuccessful. Burke then replied with a message asking her to make that abortion the last one until they had a "real" one. This evidence was used at a hearing where the judge had to decide whether the case would go to trial.
David Anthony Burke was arrested on 20 April 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Proceedings to determine guilt and further legal steps are underway, and the judge will make a final decision on whether to initiate a full murder trial.
