Singer D4vd's alleged murder victim died from penetrating injuries, post - mortem finds
Wednesday 22 April 2026 23:16, UK
Singer D4vd's alleged murder victim died from penetrating injuries, post - mortem finds
The 21-year-old musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, had been under investigation by a grand jury after the dismembered and decomposed body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in a car registered to him in September.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke. Pic: AP
A 14-year-old girl, who was allegedly murdered by singer D4vd, died from "multiple penetrating injuries caused by objects", according to a post-mortem report.
The 21-year-old US musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, had been under investigation by a grand jury after the dismembered and decomposed body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in a car registered to him in September.
He was arrested last Thursday and charged with Ms Hernandez's murder on Monday. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 and mutilating a dead body.
The girl's death was ruled a homicide in the post-mortem report by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office.
It found she had significant wounds to her torso, likely caused by a sharp object.
Her body was so degraded that experts could not establish her eye colour. And some of her body parts were missing.
The report, published on Wednesday, had been blocked from release for months.
A judge had ordered the report to be sealed in November at the request of law enforcement.
But prosecutors agreed this week to allow its release.
Family tribute to 'beautiful, strong girl'
The victim's parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, paid tribute to her, saying she was "a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance" as they made their first public statement.
"Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together."
"We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply," they said in a joint statement released through their lawyer.
Prosecutors allege Burke killed the girl because she threatened to report they had a sexual relationship that began when she was 13 years old and he feared it would ruin his rising career.
A criminal complaint alleges he killed her with a sharp object and dismembered the body about two weeks later.
LA County's chief medical examiner Dr Odey C Ukpo said: "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."
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