Los Angeles prosecutors have given a moment-by-moment account of the final hours of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, presenting a stream of text messages exchanged with the singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke. The court heard that her phone went permanently silent shortly after she arrived at his Hollywood home on 23 April 2025. This detailed timeline was presented on what is expected to be the concluding day of a Los Angeles hearing, which will determine whether Burke will proceed to trial in connection with her death.
During the proceedings, Detective Corey Farrell of the Los Angeles Police Department read out the text messages, which were obtained through warrants on Burke’s iPhone and iCloud accounts. The prosecution highlighted a final text from Rivas Hernandez as she neared Burke's residence, sent via an Uber he had reportedly dispatched for her: “girly pop i’m almost there open ur door if ur home.” Prosecutors allege that Burke, 21, subsequently stabbed her to death upon her entry.
The court was also shown texts from the night before, revealing an argument between Rivas Hernandez and Burke concerning his relationship with another woman. In an angry and profane message, Rivas Hernandez reportedly threatened to “end ur career and ur life” and tell her father numerous lies about him. Defence attorneys, however, presented other texts from Rivas Hernandez threatening to go to Burke’s mother, speak to his friends, and “leak” information, but established she never threatened police or legal action.
The defence also pointed out that no witnesses or cameras captured Rivas Hernandez entering the house or Burke being present at the specific time prosecutors allege she was killed. Detective Farrell confirmed under questioning that the parents of both Burke and Rivas Hernandez were aware of their relationship, and that Burke had attended church with members of her family. He also acknowledged that Rivas Hernandez had initially misrepresented her age to Burke, stating she was 16 when she was 11, and later claiming to be 18.
Following the silence from Rivas Hernandez’s phone, Burke reportedly sent several messages later that night, inquiring about her whereabouts and expressing concern. Prosecutors contend these messages were sent as a cover-up after her death. Earlier in the hearing, a police analyst testified that samples from apparent bloodstains in Burke’s garage matched Rivas Hernandez’s DNA. Her body was eventually discovered in a Tesla registered to Burke nearly five months after her disappearance. Both sides have now concluded their questioning of Detective Farrell, the hearing’s final witness, and are preparing for closing arguments before Judge Charlaine Olmedo makes her decision on whether to send Burke to trial on charges of murder, sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of a body. Burke has pleaded not guilty, with his lawyers maintaining he did not cause her death.