Los Angeles prosecutors presented text messages Friday between 18-year-old singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, and 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The messages establish a timeline of escalating tension before her death. Authorities allege Burke murdered the teenager to prevent her from exposing their illegal relationship and destroying his music career.
The preliminary hearing revealed that Rivas Hernandez became pregnant at age 13. She underwent an abortion in early January 2024. In the recovered messages, Burke apologized for putting her through the procedure. Rivas Hernandez responded that neither of them were capable of taking care of a baby. Court testimony confirmed the pair exchanged increasingly strained messages throughout the year. By November 2024, the teenager expressed deep regret over the abortion and texted Burke that she had been having sex with him for almost a year straight.
Prosecutors believe Burke stabbed her to death around April 23, 2025. Her dismembered remains were discovered months later on September 8, 2025. Investigators found her body decomposing inside the front trunk of an impounded Tesla Model X registered to the singer. If you review the court timeline, investigators allege the murder occurred months before the vehicle was impounded. The medical examiner determined she suffered two fatal stab wounds to her torso.
Police arrested Burke in April 2026. He faces charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
The investigation also scrutinized those around the artist. Robert Morgenroth, general manager of the Mogul Vision record label, testified before a grand jury regarding the case. He was reportedly uncooperative. Morgenroth stated he didn’t feel a responsibility to call the police after learning of the body’s discovery, preferring instead to continue with the tour.