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US singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as d4vd, has been accused by prosecutors of purchasing equipment online, including chainsaws, after allegedly killing a teenage girl.
The claims are contained in a newly released court filing yesterday, which outlines the alleged motive and steps prosecutors say he took to conceal the crime before the dismembered body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was discovered in his car.
According to prosecutors, Burke met Rivas Hernandez when she was 11 and is accused of beginning a sexual relationship with her when she was 13 while he was 18. Court documents allege the teenager later sent messages threatening to expose the relationship and “destroy his life” prior to her death.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His legal team has insisted they will “vigorously defend” him, maintaining that evidence will prove he was not responsible for the teenager’s death.
He appeared briefly in court yesterday, dressed in an orange Los Angeles County jail uniform and in restraints.
He spoke only to confirm he agreed to postpone his preliminary hearing until late May.
In the filing, prosecutors allege Burke stabbed the victim multiple times at his residence. They further claim he used a false identity to purchase items in the days that followed, including two chainsaws, an inflatable pool, a body bag and a shovel. Authorities also allege he bought a burn cage and planned to destroy evidence by fire.
The document references earlier interactions between authorities and Burke, including when the girl was reported missing by her family in 2024.
Investigators say text messages show a prolonged dispute on 22 April 2025, reportedly over Burke’s involvement with other women.
Prosecutors claim the teenager threatened to reveal damaging details about their relationship, which they believe led to her death the following day.
According to the filing, Burke arranged an Uber ride for the girl to his home that day. Prosecutors allege he later sent multiple messages asking about her whereabouts as part of an effort to create a false trail.
Burke’s debut studio album was released on 25 April, shortly after the alleged killing.
Authorities say that in the days following her death, Burke purchased additional items to dispose of the body and allegedly dismembered the remains in the garage of his Hollywood Hills home.
Surveillance footage cited in the filing reportedly shows Burke as the last person to drive his Tesla, where the body was eventually discovered in September 2025.
The nine-page court document provides the most detailed account of events since the case drew widespread international attention last year.
During yesterday’s hearing, Burke’s attorneys sought to prevent the release of the filing, arguing that extensive media coverage could jeopardize his right to a fair trial.
Lawyer Blair Berk told the court there was concern about the intense public scrutiny surrounding the case.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled that the document could be made public but agreed to keep certain other evidence sealed.
Another court hearing is scheduled for next month.
Burke rose to prominence on TikTok with hit songs “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me.” He was on a global tour when police discovered the teenager’s body in the front trunk of his Tesla in September 2025. The tour was subsequently cancelled, and he has since withdrawn from public appearances and social media.
Los Angeles police announced his apprehension earlier this month.
Los Angeles County District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, has brought seven criminal charges against him, which include homicide, ongoing sexual abuse of a minor, and the disfigurement of remains.
Authorities reported that the teenager had been declared missing by her relatives and was last seen at Burke’s residence in Hollywood Hills on April 3, 2025. Her remains were discovered decomposing in Burke’s Tesla five months later.
Rivas Hernandez’s family issued their first public statement shortly after the discovery, expressing their love for the young girl and demanding justice for her tragic death.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong
