A harrowing and disturbing picture has emerged from the D4vd hearing, where a forensic doctor's testimony shed light on the devastating condition of Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body when it was discovered. Dr Grant Ho, who performed the postmortem examination, detailed the grave challenges faced in examining her remains, which had deteriorated significantly after being found several weeks following her death.
Dr. Ho revealed that two distinct stab wounds were identified on Rivas Hernandez's body: one on her abdomen, which had penetrated and affected her liver, and another on her left chest, causing damage to her ribs. The exact time of death remained elusive due to the degraded state of the body, but Dr. Ho confirmed she had been deceased for weeks before being discovered.
Prosecutors have accused musician D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, of fatally stabbing Hernandez in April 2025, motivated by a desire to silence her from revealing their alleged sexual relationship – which began when Burke was 18 and Hernandez was just 13. The prosecution claims the abuse continued as Burke's music career gained prominence.
The discovery of Rivas Hernandez's remains in September 2025 by Los Angeles police revealed a shocking and disturbing crime scene: her dismembered and decomposing body was found in the front storage compartment of a Tesla registered to Burke, around five months after prosecutors say she was killed. The court has been presented with graphic photographic evidence throughout the week's proceedings.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to a range of serious charges, including capital murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The unsealing of Rivas Hernandez’s autopsy report in April 2026 – which cited multiple penetrating injuries as the cause of death – has intensified public scrutiny and speculation surrounding her demise.