Singer D4vd takes the rap for murder of 14-year-old girlfriend…prosecutors claim he lured her to his house, stabbed her to death

28.7.2026
American rising singer David Anthony Burke a.k.a D4vd will stand trial for the alleged killing and dismembering a 14-year-old girl who prosecutors say threatened to reveal their illegal sexual relationship.
Presiding judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled there was enough incriminating evidence to proceed after a five-day hearing, during which prosecutors presented text messages from the teen victim — whose body was discovered in the trunk of D4vd’s car — threatening to end his career.
The 21-year-old singer allegedly began a sexual relationship with Celeste Rivas Hernandez when she was 13 and he was 18.
D4vd has denied one count each of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.
According to prosecutors say Celeste Rivas Hernandez became jealous when she found out D4vd was having an affair with another girl about 24 hours before her death and three days before his first album was released.
“I swear to GOD I will kill u she was in my dam seat i will strangle u…i will end ur career and ur life I will damage anything,” Hernandez wrote in profanity-laced texts presented by prosecutors.
The singer then allegedly paid for an Uber to bring her to his home and subsequently stabbed her to death.
According to prosecutors, Burke’s Amazon receipts show he purchased chainsaws and an inflatable pool, as well as a portable “burn box” incinerator that turned out to be too small to destroy her body.
Hernandez’s decomposing body was found in September 2025 in the trunk of a Tesla registered in the singer’s name, which had been towed to a Hollywood impound lot.
The singer rose to fame in 2022 when his song “Romantic Homicide” became a viral sensation on TikTok. He performed at Coachella music festival last year.
She became pregnant by Burke and had an abortion, according to text messages presented at the hearing.
They broke up in November 2024 but remained in contact.
Defense lawyer Blair Berk said: “there was no evidence of deliberate intention to kill.” AFP