*David Anthony Burke, the 21-year-old alt-pop singer known as D4vd, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
But new court filings in Los Angeles have pulled back the curtain on a nightmare that prosecutors say unfolded behind the gates of his Hollywood Hills home. The allegations against Burke are no longer just about a death. They now include a chainsaw, a shovel, a body bag, an inflatable pool, and a calculated cover-up allegedly designed to protect a multi-million-dollar music career.
Burke has pleaded not guilty. His legal team has pushed back. But the documents filed by prosecutors describe a sequence of events so methodical and so grisly that even veteran detectives have called it disturbing.
The Relationship, the Secret, and the Alleged Breaking Point
Prosecutors allege that Burke first met Celeste Rivas Hernandez when she was just 11 years old. He was 18. By the time she was 13, they claim, the relationship had turned sexual. For a rising artist with product endorsements and a trajectory toward stardom, that secret was a live grenade.
The victim reportedly threatened to pull the pin. Court filings state that on April 22, 2025, Celeste and Burke engaged in a lengthy text argument. She was jealous of his relationships with other women. She threatened to expose their relationship — to end his career and destroy his life.
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Prosecutors allege that the killing was motivated by money. “He had an emerging multi-million-dollar career,” the filing reads. “He also had multiple product endorsements, which were highly profitable.”
Celeste – on several occasions – had run away from her home in Lake Elsinore, California, roughly an hour from Los Angeles. She had returned home before her death. But on April 23, 2025, Burke allegedly ordered an Uber to bring her to his mansion. They texted during the ride.
She arrived at approximately 10:10 p.m.
The Killing and the Text That Allegedly Covered Tracks
Soon after she arrived, prosecutors say, Burke stabbed Celeste multiple times. Then, they allege, he stood by while she bled out.
“At no time did he call law enforcement or 911 or take her to an emergency room to attempt to save her life,” the filing states. She was 14 years old.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. — just 20 minutes after her arrival and while she was allegedly dying or already dead — Burke reportedly sent a text message to Celeste’s phone. Prosecutors argue this was part of a premeditated plan to cover his tracks, creating a digital alibi or a false trail.
But what came next is where the case took its most horrific turn.
The Inflatable Pool, Chainsaws, and the Burn Cage
In the days following April 23, 2025, Burke allegedly began shopping. He purchased items online using a fake name: “Victoria Mendez.”
The shopping list, according to prosecutors:
A shovel from Home Depot, delivered via Postmates the next day.
Two chainsaws from Amazon, arriving about a week later.
A body bag.
Heavy-duty laundry bags.
A blue inflatable pool (purchased May 5).
A burn cage in July, allegedly intended to incinerate evidence.
Prosecutors allege that Burke placed Celeste’s body in the inflatable pool inside his garage to contain the blood. Then, they say, he used a chainsaw — and possibly other tools — to dismember her, removing limbs. Her ring and pinky fingers, one of which reportedly bore his name tattooed on her hand, were amputated and have never been found.
Her remains were later discovered in the trunk of his Tesla. That discovery came months later, in September of 2025.
The Evidence, the Charges, and the Not Guilty Plea
Beyond the mutilation allegations, prosecutors say they have child pornography on Burke’s phone and iCloud, wiretapped communications, and biological evidence — blood — inside the garage.
Burke was arrested in April 2026 and charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of human remains. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The case is currently in preliminary hearing stages in Los Angeles. A recent brief hearing laid the groundwork for more evidence to come. Burke maintains his innocence, and his defense team has pushed back on several of the prosecution’s claims.
The victim’s family has expressed shock at the new graphic details. Nothing in this case has been proven at trial, and Burke is entitled to the presumption of innocence. But the picture painted by prosecutors is one of a young star who allegedly traded a teenager’s life for the silence required to keep his career alive.
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