A disturbing criminal case out of Los Angeles has surfaced with a series of allegations that prosecutors describe as calculated, prolonged, and deeply violent, centering on a 21-year-old musician accused of killing a teenage girl after months of alleged abuse.
David Anthony Burke, known professionally as “D4vd,” has been charged with murder, sexual abuse, and the unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail as the case moves forward.
According to prosecutors, Burke’s alleged relationship with the victim began years earlier, when she was just 11. Authorities claim the abuse escalated in late 2023, when she was 13 and he was legally an adult. Despite intervention from her family, including confiscating her phone, prosecutors allege Burke continued contact by arranging for another individual to deliver her a new device.
The timeline presented in court filings outlines an ongoing relationship that included travel and extended stays at Burke’s residence. That connection reportedly deteriorated in late 2024, though communication continued into April 2025. Prosecutors say tensions escalated when the victim threatened to reveal details of the relationship, which they argue created a motive tied to Burke’s career and public image.
On April 23, 2025, Celeste was last seen after allegedly being invited to Burke’s home in the Hollywood Hills. Prosecutors claim she was killed shortly after arriving, with the medical examiner later determining her death was caused by multiple stab wounds.
What followed, according to investigators, was a sequence of actions pointing to premeditation and concealment. Authorities allege Burke purchased tools and materials in the days after her disappearance, including chainsaws, a body bag, and other equipment. He is accused of dismembering her body in a garage using an inflatable pool to contain evidence, then storing remains in his vehicle before abandoning it months later near his residence.
The remains were discovered in September 2025 inside a car registered to Burke, roughly 400 feet from his home. Surveillance footage reportedly places him as the last known driver of the vehicle.
Additional evidence cited by prosecutors includes forensic findings from his home, digital records, and alleged possession of illicit material involving the victim. The case has drawn particular attention due to the combination of forensic detail, digital evidence, and the timeline of public appearances Burke maintained during the period in question, including media interviews conducted shortly after the alleged killing.
Legal analysts note that the severity and nature of the allegations could influence sentencing considerations if a conviction is reached, including the possibility of capital punishment under California law, despite the state’s current moratorium on executions.
The case remains ongoing, with further proceedings expected to examine the extensive evidence outlined by prosecutors and the defense’s response to those claims.
