LOS ANGELES — A report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez a homicide. The autopsy revealed she suffered fatal penetrating injuries. Her remains were found in the trunk of a Tesla parked in the Hollywood Hills last September, leading to the arrest of David Burke, known professionally as D4vd.
Burke, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder among other offenses, having pleaded not guilty. According to prosecutors, Rivas Hernandez threatened to disclose their sexual relationship that allegedly began when she was just 13, prompting her alleged killer’s drastic actions.
Further revelations from the autopsy detail the extensive mutilation of Rivas Hernandez's body, which was so severely degraded that examiners could not determine her eye color. The report indicated that she had significant wounds to her torso likely caused by a sharp object. Two weeks post-murder, Burke allegedly dismembered her body—an act he reportedly undertook in an attempt to conceal his crime.
The Medical Examiner's office has faced criticism for sealing their report at the request of local law enforcement, a move that delayed critical information from reaching the victim’s family. Dr. Odey C. Ukpo, LA County’s Chief Medical Examiner, has expressed the importance of transparency and the emotional burden placed on the grieving family due to the prolonged wait for answers.
This tragic incident has garnered national attention, partly due to the popularity of D4vd, known for his viral song 'Romantic Homicide' and his recent EPs. The juxtaposition of his rising fame with the gruesome circumstances of this case has sparked widespread outrage and concern within the community.
Burke, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder among other offenses, having pleaded not guilty. According to prosecutors, Rivas Hernandez threatened to disclose their sexual relationship that allegedly began when she was just 13, prompting her alleged killer’s drastic actions.
Further revelations from the autopsy detail the extensive mutilation of Rivas Hernandez's body, which was so severely degraded that examiners could not determine her eye color. The report indicated that she had significant wounds to her torso likely caused by a sharp object. Two weeks post-murder, Burke allegedly dismembered her body—an act he reportedly undertook in an attempt to conceal his crime.
The Medical Examiner's office has faced criticism for sealing their report at the request of local law enforcement, a move that delayed critical information from reaching the victim’s family. Dr. Odey C. Ukpo, LA County’s Chief Medical Examiner, has expressed the importance of transparency and the emotional burden placed on the grieving family due to the prolonged wait for answers.
This tragic incident has garnered national attention, partly due to the popularity of D4vd, known for his viral song 'Romantic Homicide' and his recent EPs. The juxtaposition of his rising fame with the gruesome circumstances of this case has sparked widespread outrage and concern within the community.
