D4vd Trial: Singer Killed Teenager, Dismembered Body With Chainsaws After She Threatened To Expose Relationship

American singer David Anthony Burke, also known as D4vd, is facing trial after being charged in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The 14-year-old was allegedly in a relationship with the artist, despite being a minor. While Burke has pleaded not guilty in court, prosecutors have filed charges and outlined their case.

According to a new report, prosecutors allege that the singer killed the teenager after she threatened to expose their relationship. They claim Burke, seeking to protect his budding musical career and public image, acted against Hernandez.

During D4vd’s trial, prosecutors outlined probable cause behind the crime. They alleged that the teenager was killed after she threatened to expose their relationship. Prosecutors described the relationship as illegal, considering Hernandez’s age. She was 13 when she became romantically involved with Burke, who was 18.

The court filing that was presented also listed a number of messages exchanged between Burke and Hernandez during their relationship. These included explicit photos, along with detailed discussions about s--, pregnancy, contraception, abortion, and more.

Burke and Hernandez had an on-and-off relationship throughout their time together. In the summer of 2024, the singer even introduced the teenager to his family, which led her to believe they had a future together.

But things took a turn in April 2025 when Hernandez became increasingly concerned about Burke’s relationships with other women. It was then that she threatened to expose their relationship. Prosecutors say this put at risk the singer’s multimillion-dollar career, which was just beginning to take off.

Prosecutors have also outlined a timeline of events that they say led to the alleged killing of the teenager. On April 23, 2025, D4vd sent an Uber to pick up Hernandez, who arrived at his home at about 10 a.m. Prosecutors allege that shortly after she arrived, the teenager was stabbed multiple times.

According to prosecutors, as part of what they described as a premeditated plan, Burke sent a message to Hernandez about 20 minutes later, asking where she was. They say this was a calculated move to help cover up the alleged killing.

Authorities further allege that later that night, the singer drove to Santa Barbara to destroy evidence. Prosecutors said he had previously purchased chainsaws on Amazon using a fake name and allegedly used them to dismember the teenager’s body. They also allege he bought a burn cage, which was used to destroy remaining evidence.

After having done the unthinkable, he drove back home the next morning to sit down for a radio interview about his then upcoming album. It was in January when a transportation worker found Hernandez’s passport in Santa Barbara.

Prosecutors detailed that Burke used horrifying measures with the chainsaws to destroy the victim’s body. It was finally on September 8, the decomposed and dismembered body of Hernandez was discovered by the police in the trunk of a Tesla. It was registered in the name of D4vd.