Inside the final hours of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s brief life
Tragedy in Hollywood Hills: The Final Days of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Goldlaner.com – An extensive legal document submitted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney reveals the harrowing conclusion to the life of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The brief outlines how a volatile dispute between the rising pop sensation d4vd and the teenage girl ultimately led to her death. According to prosecutors, the altercation on April 22, 2025, served as the catalyst for a series of events that would end the 14-year-old’s life in a gruesome manner.
A Complicated Romance and Rising Fame
D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, was navigating a period of significant professional growth when the tragedy unfolded. Prosecutors noted that the artist was not only building a substantial musical empire but also securing lucrative business deals. As stated in the filing:
“He had an emerging multi-million-dollar career already in progress,” according to the brief. “He also had multiple product endorsements which were highly profitable.”
The timeline of their connection stretches back to 2022, when the two first crossed paths. At that time, Celeste was merely 11 years old while d4vd was already 18. Although they separated romantically in November 2024, their communication and intimate involvement persisted. Text messages obtained by investigators indicate that d4vd continued to influence Celeste even after their official split. One message from the girl highlighted her desire for a deeper connection beyond their physical interactions:
Celeste wrote, “all we do is have sex and just hang out man I want more than that for myself.”
Prosecutors allege that a sexual relationship formally began in November 2023, when d4vd was 18 and Celeste was 13. During this period, d4vd was experiencing a surge in popularity. He had recently made his late-night television debut on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and performed his breakout track, “Romantic Homicide.” The music video for the song features the artist standing over a woman in a white dress, singing lyrics that eerily foreshadow the events to come: “In the back of my mind, I killed you / And I didn’t even regret it.”
The Night of the Murder
The sequence of events leading to Celeste’s death began with a heated argument on April 22, 2025. Celeste, who was reportedly upset about d4vd’s interactions with other women, became increasingly agitated. She reportedly threatened to expose damaging details about their relationship to the public, claiming she would destroy his career and ruin his life. This threat came at a critical moment, as d4vd’s debut studio album, “Withered,” was scheduled for release just days later.
On the evening following the dispute, d4vd arranged for an Uber to transport Celeste from her residence in Lake Elsinore to his home in the Hollywood Hills. She arrived at approximately 10:10 p.m. According to the prosecution’s narrative, d4vd acted quickly to neutralize the threat she posed. 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 by while she bled out.”
Discovery and Dismemberment
In the days immediately following the killing, d4vd purchased several items online, including two chainsaws, a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, and a blue inflatable pool. Prosecutors believe these items were used to dispose of Celeste’s body. The killing is believed to have occurred on April 23, 2025. D4vd reportedly placed Celeste’s body into the inflatable pool to prevent blood from staining his garage floor before using the chainsaws to cut off her limbs.
Small blue plastic fragments were later discovered embedded within Celeste’s remains, linking them to the pool. An expert with Los Angeles police made a preliminary finding regarding these pieces. Celeste’s dismembered remains were eventually located in the trunk of d4vd’s impounded Tesla in Los Angeles on September 8, 2025, just one day after her 15th birthday. She had been reported missing by family and friends on multiple occasions starting in early 2024.
Legal Proceedings and Evidence
D4vd was arrested in April and has entered a plea of not guilty to charges including first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilating human remains. The DA’s brief also highlights the presence of child pornography among the evidence collected in the case. Celeste’s family had noted that she was on a troubled journey as a runaway from Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California, during this time.
Following his arraignment, d4vd’s attorney, Blair Berk, issued a statement defending her client. Berk maintained that d4vd was innocent of the crime, asserting that the upcoming trial would prove his innocence. She stated that the evidence “will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death.” As d4vd prepares for his international tour, the legal system works to piece together the final hours of Celeste’s brief life.
