Rising Singer Charged with Brutal Murder and Underage Sex
R&B singer D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, 24, stands accused of a shocking crime: the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whom he allegedly sexually abused. Prosecutors claim D4vd killed Celeste to protect his rising career after she threatened to expose their relationship. The chilling murder happened on April 23, 2025 — just two days before his debut album, Withered, hit No. 13 on the Billboard 200. Celeste’s remains were found months later, hidden in the front trunk of D4vd’s abandoned Tesla.
Disturbing Details of the Case
- D4vd reportedly met Celeste online when she was only 11 or 12 years old back in 2022.
- Celeste ran away twice to Hollywood, once in early 2024 to be with a “rapper” she met online.
- The singer allegedly introduced her at parties and recording sessions as a 19-year-old university student.
- The pair even shared matching “Shhh…” tattoos on their index fingers.
- Prosecutors say Celeste threatened to expose the illegal relationship, triggering the fatal act.
- D4vd then allegedly dismembered her body to hide the evidence.
Charges and Possible Sentences
D4vd faces first-degree murder charges with “special circumstances” — because Celeste was a key witness in an ongoing investigation into his alleged grooming. This means he could face death or life in prison without parole. He’s also charged with sex with a minor and mutilating a body. The case paints a grim picture of a young girl trapped and silenced by a predator.
Clues in His Music?
In a chilling twist, D4vd released a music video just two months before the murder, showing him dragging a body and stuffing it into a car trunk. Was this a sinister hint at what was to come?
“Oh, Celeste The girl with my name tattooed on her chest Smell her on my clothes like cigarettes I hear her voice each time I take a breath I’m obsessed…”
The disturbing lyrics describe an unhealthy obsession with a girl barely in her teens.
Justice for Celeste
This tragic case raises serious questions about how Celeste slipped through the cracks despite attempts to protect her. With prosecutors weighing the death penalty, many are demanding tough justice. Our thoughts are with Celeste’s family and friends as they grapple with this devastating loss. For more on troubling industry cases, see the story of the woman who sued Jason Derulo over coercive behaviour here.
