Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl at the centre of the murder case against singer D4vd, died from multiple penetrating injuries, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner revealed Wednesday. The findings, which also confirmed the teen’s body was dismembered after her death, were released after being sealed for months during the investigation.
The singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, 21, was charged earlier this week with murder, sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of a corpse in connection with Hernandez’s death. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The case has drawn significant public attention due to the gruesome nature of the crime and the celebrity status of the accused.
Hernandez’s badly decomposed body was discovered in the trunk of Burke’s car in late August after the vehicle was towed from a Hollywood location. According to the full autopsy report, her remains were found inside a "large, black zippered body bag with handles." Her arms and legs, which had been severed above the elbows and knees, were located in a separate trash bag.
The medical examiner’s office had determined the cause of death on Dec. 9, but the findings were withheld from the public at the request of law enforcement to protect the integrity of the investigation. The decision to keep the report sealed led to a public disagreement between the LAPD and the Chief Medical Examiner.
Details of the autopsy
The autopsy report provides a grim account of Hernandez's final moments and subsequent treatment. It details two significant penetrating wounds, one to her abdomen and one to her chest, which were determined to be the cause of death. The report concludes that after she died, her body was dismembered, with both arms and legs amputated, along with two fingers on her left hand.
The advanced state of decomposition severely hampered the examination, with investigators unable to determine basic details such as the girl's eye colour. A postmortem toxicology screening found only ethanol in her system. The prolonged time between her death and the discovery of her body created significant challenges for the forensic team.
After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss. It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter.
A secret investigation
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated this week that the secrecy surrounding the autopsy was necessary to avoid tainting the testimony of witnesses brought before two separate grand juries. The investigative bodies were convened to gather evidence against Burke. Hochman explained that releasing details of the dismemberment could have compromised the investigation, as this information was not widely known.
Even Burke’s defence lawyer, Blair Berk, had not seen the autopsy report as of Monday. Berk has denied the allegations on behalf of her client and is demanding an immediate preliminary hearing, expressing confidence that the prosecution's case will not withstand scrutiny. The tension over the sealed report highlights the balance law enforcement must strike between the public's right to information and the need to preserve the integrity of a criminal investigation. Such measures are often employed in high-profile cases to prevent witness coercion or the spread of misinformation that could prejudice a future jury. More information about how the Los Angeles court system handles public records can be found through its increasing use of newly available digital tools, and similar circumstances have been seen following tragedies such as the one dead after truck and car collide on SH29.
Timeline of a tragedy
Prosecutors allege the timeline of abuse began in September 2023, when Hernandez was 13. Dist. Atty. Hochman said Burke killed the teen because she "threatened to expose his criminal conduct." Hernandez was last seen alive with Burke at a Hollywood Hills residence on April 23, 2025, which prosecutors identify as the approximate date she was killed.
Records show Hernandez, a resident of Lake Elsinore, had been reported missing by her family multiple times in the year before her death. During this period, however, she had also been seen attending some of D4vd's musical performances, suggesting a complex and troubling relationship between the teen and the rising music star.
Burke was arrested last week following an extensive investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. The city has recently been focused on public safety, with Mayor Karen Bass ordering more police patrols in various neighbourhoods to address crime concerns. The investigation into Hernandez's death was a joint effort involving multiple LAPD divisions, according to reports.
David Burke is scheduled to appear in court in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday morning. The case is expected to proceed with a preliminary hearing in the coming weeks, where a judge will determine if there is sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.
