D4vd Had a Significant Amount of Child Sex Abuse Images in iCloud Account, Prosecutors Say

A critical preliminary hearing is set to commence on July 21, where a judge will meticulously review the evidence presented by prosecutors to determine if there is sufficient probable cause to advance the murder case against singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, to a full trial. The proceedings, expected to span three days in a Los Angeles court, come three months after the 21-year-old artist’s arrest. D4vd faces grave charges including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her decomposed and dismembered body was discovered in his car in September.

It is crucial to understand that this preliminary hearing is not intended to determine guilt or innocence. Instead, its sole purpose is to ascertain whether the prosecution has amassed enough evidence to substantiate their charges and justify proceeding to a trial. D4vd has formally pleaded not guilty to all counts, and his legal defense team has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting his innocence.

Defense Affirms Innocence Amidst Grave Accusations

In a statement released in April following D4vd’s arrest and subsequent charging, his legal representatives, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, declared, "The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence." This strong assertion from his lawyers sets the stage for a challenging legal battle, with the defense poised to contest the prosecution’s narrative at every turn.

Prosecutors Unveil Evidence Roadmap

In preparation for the preliminary hearing, prosecutors submitted a comprehensive brief in April, intended to serve as a "roadmap of evidence" that they intend to introduce. This document, made public by Courthouse News Service, outlines a disturbing timeline and alleged relationship between D4vd and Celeste Rivas Hernandez. According to the brief, their association began in January 2022. The prosecution contends that a sexual relationship commenced in November 2023, at which point Rivas Hernandez was 13 years old and D4vd was 18. Rivas Hernandez was officially reported missing in April 2024.

The prosecution’s brief details that throughout 2024, Rivas Hernandez reportedly spent a "significant amount of time" with D4vd. This included weekends at his Hollywood Hills residence and travel with him to various locations, including Las Vegas, London, and Texas, where he allegedly introduced her to his family. Text message exchanges between the victim and the defendant, as detailed in the brief, reportedly contain discussions pertaining to sex, pregnancy, abortion, and the use of emergency contraception. The prosecution asserts that explicit photographs were also exchanged, documenting and corroborating their alleged sexual relationship.

Allegations of a Tumultuous Relationship and Threats

The legal documents further indicate that D4vd and Rivas Hernandez reportedly ended their romantic relationship in November 2024. However, prosecutors allege that communication between them continued, with text messages suggesting they maintained a sexual relationship.

A pivotal point in the prosecution’s case, as outlined in the brief, is an alleged argument that occurred between D4vd and Rivas Hernandez on April 22, 2025. The text messages from this incident reportedly reveal Rivas Hernandez’s jealousy concerning D4vd’s relationships with other women, stemming from his alleged promises of a future together. Her distress, the brief claims, led her to threaten to expose damaging information about their relationship to effectively end his music career and "destroy his life."

The Day of the Alleged Murder

The prosecution posits that on April 23, 2025, D4vd orchestrated for Rivas Hernandez to be transported from her home in Lake Elsinore to his Hollywood Hills residence via Uber. Prosecutors identify this date as the probable day of her death. The brief states, "Knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened, very soon after her arrival at his home, defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood while she bled out."

Disposal of Evidence and Gruesome Acts

Following the alleged murder, the prosecution contends that D4vd embarked on a series of actions to conceal his involvement. He is accused of driving to Santa Barbara County to "dispose of her property and destroy evidence." Despite texting Rivas Hernandez inquiries about her whereabouts late on April 23rd and the morning of April 24th, 2025, prosecutors allege she was already deceased, and these messages were part of a "premeditated plan to cover up the murder."

The brief further alleges that D4vd, using a false name, made several concerning purchases. On April 24, 2025, he allegedly ordered a shovel. Subsequently, on May 1, 2025, he is reported to have purchased two chainsaws, a "body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, and a blue inflatable pool." The prosecution claims he made additional trips to Santa Barbara County later in May and, on July 7, 2025, ordered a "burn cage" with the intent to "incinerate evidence."

The prosecution’s account details horrifying measures allegedly taken by D4vd to destroy and discard Rivas Hernandez’s body. According to the brief, he placed her body into the blue inflatable pool to contain the blood before allegedly using a chainsaw and other tools to dismember her limbs. In a particularly chilling detail, prosecutors allege that D4vd "amputated her left ring and pinky fingers because her ring finger contained a tattoo of his name," noting that these fingers have not been recovered. The brief states that he then placed her head and torso into the purchased cadaver bag, her limbs into a garbage bag, and transported them in the front trunk of his Tesla. Prosecutors claim the victim’s body remained in the car for weeks, or possibly months, decomposing.

Discovery of the Victim’s Remains

Surveillance footage, according to the prosecution’s brief, shows D4vd was the last person to drive his Tesla on July 29, 2025. He allegedly parked the vehicle on a street near his residence before departing for his tour, which commenced in Del Mar on August 5th.

The vehicle was towed in early September. On September 8th, the tow-yard manager contacted the Los Angeles Police Department after noticing a "strong smell of decay and presence of flies coming from the vehicle." Upon their arrival, detectives discovered a dismembered body. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Department officially identified the remains on September 16th as Celeste Rivas Hernandez. In a December death investigation summary, the medical examiner ruled her cause of death as "multiple penetrating injuries" and the manner of death as homicide.

Chronology of Events

• January 2022: D4vd (David Anthony Burke) and Celeste Rivas Hernandez reportedly meet.
• November 2023: The prosecution alleges a sexual relationship begins between D4vd (then 18) and Rivas Hernandez (then 13).
• April 5, 2024: Celeste Rivas Hernandez is reported missing.
• April 22, 2025: An alleged argument occurs between D4vd and Rivas Hernandez, reportedly involving threats from Rivas Hernandez to expose their relationship.
• April 23, 2025: D4vd allegedly arranges for Rivas Hernandez to be transported to his Hollywood Hills home. Prosecutors believe this is the date of her death.
• April 23-24, 2025: D4vd allegedly disposes of evidence and Rivas Hernandez’s body.
• May 1, 2025: D4vd allegedly purchases chainsaws.
• July 7, 2025: D4vd allegedly orders a "burn cage."
• July 29, 2025: D4vd is reportedly the last person seen driving his Tesla before it is parked near his home.
• Early September 2025: D4vd’s Tesla is towed.
• September 8, 2025: A tow-yard manager reports a foul odor from the Tesla to the LAPD. Human remains are discovered.
• September 16, 2025: The remains are identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Department.
• September 17, 2025: A search warrant is served at D4vd’s home.
• Around September 2025: D4vd cancels the remainder of his U.S. tour dates.
• April 16, 2026: D4vd is arrested.
• April 20, 2026: D4vd is formally charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
• July 21, 2026: Preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin.

Background of the Artist

David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, rose to prominence through his unique musical style. Born in Queens, New York, he relocated to Houston, Texas, at the age of 13. His initial foray into online content creation began as a streamer playing games like Fortnite, with aspirations of viral success on YouTube. Challenges with copyright infringement on the music he used in his videos led him, in 2021, to explore music production himself. With no prior formal musical training, he began creating songs using a mobile app. His original music gained significant traction on TikTok, propelling his career forward. By April 2025, he had released his debut album, Withered, and embarked on a world tour. The artist is described as 21 years old, though some reports indicate he was 20 at the time of his arrest, highlighting a potential discrepancy in age information.

Official Responses and Legal Proceedings

Following the discovery of Rivas Hernandez’s body, a spokesperson for D4vd issued a statement confirming that the singer had been informed of the situation and was fully cooperating with authorities, despite being on tour at the time. The Los Angeles Police Department announced D4vd’s arrest on April 16, 2026, stating he was being held without bail.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the charges against D4vd: one count of murder, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and one count of unlawful mutilation of human remains. District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman issued a stern statement: "Celeste was just a child, under 14 years old, when David Burke allegedly engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations with her. But Burke’s actions did not allegedly stop there. When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car. There the dismembered body sat for over four months decomposing until it was found at a tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025. This horrific and gruesome murder committed by the charged sexual predator is shocking and appalling. To Celeste’s loved ones, we will get the justice you seek and deserve."

The criminal complaint also includes special circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. Additionally, a special allegation states that D4vd "personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime."

Broader Implications

The case raises profound concerns regarding the exploitation of minors and the devastating consequences of alleged violence. The preliminary hearing will be a crucial juncture, where the strength of the prosecution’s evidence will be rigorously tested. The outcome will dictate whether David Anthony Burke faces a jury to answer for the grave charges leveled against him. The legal process is ongoing, and the public awaits further developments as this deeply disturbing case unfolds. The prosecution’s detailed allegations, particularly regarding the possession of child sex abuse images in D4vd’s iCloud account, add another layer of gravity to the charges, underscoring the severity of the alleged crimes.