American singer D4vd has been charged with shopping for instruments on-line, together with a chainsaw, after prosecutors say he stabbed a teenage woman to dying.
The fees have been revealed in a deposition detailing his alleged motive and the steps prosecutors took to cowl their tracks earlier than the dismembered physique of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was discovered within the automotive.
Prosecutors say the defendant met Rivas-Hernandez when she was 11 years outdated and started sexually abusing her when she was 13 and that he was 18. Prosecutors allege that earlier than {the teenager} was killed, he despatched her a textual content message threatening to disclose a bootleg relationship and “wreck her life.”
D4vd, whose actual identify is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not responsible.
Warning: This story incorporates gory content material and particulars of dying.
D4vd’s attorneys insisted they “vigorously defend David’s innocence” and mentioned they believed “the proof will present that David didn’t kill Celeste.”
He appeared in courtroom on Wednesday as his attorneys and prosecutors debated the discharge of their filings. He was sporting an orange Los Angeles County Jail jumpsuit and was shackled as he was led into courtroom.
When the decide requested if it was okay to postpone the preliminary listening to till the tip of Might, he mentioned little aside from “Sure, sir.”
In a courtroom submitting Wednesday, prosecutors alleged Burke stabbed the teenager a number of instances in his dwelling.
Prosecutors tracked purchases he made on-line below a false identify within the following days, together with two chainsaws, a blue inflatable swimming pool, a physique bag and a shovel, in line with the submitting. The submitting alleges that the suspect additionally bought a “burn cage” and deliberate to burn proof.
The submitting describes earlier interactions authorities had with the singer, together with after her household reported her lacking in 2024.
Prosecutors mentioned the textual content messages outlined a prolonged argument from April 22, 2025, over the singer’s relationship with one other lady. Rivas-Hernandez despatched textual content messages threatening to “disclose damaging details about his relationship with the defendant in an effort to finish his profession,” the submitting mentioned.
Prosecutors mentioned in courtroom paperwork that they consider the boy was killed the subsequent day.
Prosecutors say D4vd ordered an Uber to Rivas-Hernandez’s dwelling that day, the place she was dropped off. He texted her a number of instances, asking her whereabouts, in line with the submitting, which prosecutors allege have been a part of a plan to “cowl up the homicide.”
D4vd’s first studio album was launched that week, on April twenty fifth.
Prosecutors allege that within the days after the alleged homicide, the singer bought numerous gadgets on-line to get rid of Rivas-Hernandez’s physique. The submitting alleges he dismembered her physique within the storage of his Hollywood Hills dwelling.
Courtroom paperwork additionally say surveillance digicam footage exhibits Burke was the final particular person to drive the Tesla the place his physique was present in September 2025.
The submitting launched Wednesday offers probably the most detailed timeline for the reason that case gained worldwide consideration final yr.
In courtroom Wednesday, his attorneys tried to dam the discharge of the nine-page submitting, saying it may result in elevated media protection and have an effect on his capability to obtain a good trial.
“I’ve very critical issues in regards to the amount of cash and the quantity of consideration and a spotlight that has been given to this case over the previous seven months, and significantly over the past two weeks,” his lawyer, Blair Burke, informed the decide, arguing for the paperwork to be sealed.
Decide Charlaine Olmedo allowed the paperwork to be launched, however agreed to maintain different proof from public view.
One other listening to within the case is scheduled for subsequent month.
D4vd, who rose to fame on TikTok with the viral hits “Romantic Murder” and “Right here with Me,” was on tour in September 2025 when police found Rivas Hernandez’s physique within the entrance truck of a Tesla. His world tour was canceled and he largely stayed away from public life and social media.
Los Angeles police introduced his arrest earlier this month.
Los Angeles County District Legal professional Nathan Hochman filed seven felony costs, together with homicide, steady sexual abuse of a kid and dismemberment of a corpse.
They mentioned the woman was reported lacking by her household and was final seen on April 3, 2025, at Burke’s dwelling within the Hollywood Hills. Her physique was discovered decomposed in Burke’s Tesla 5 months later.
Rivas Hernandez’s household launched their first public assertion shortly afterward, explaining their love for the woman and calling for justice for her dying.
