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D4vd is charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with Rivas’ death
NEED TO KNOW
- D4vd is charged with multiple counts including murder and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death
- His preliminary hearing began on Tuesday, July 21 in Los Angeles Superior Court
- Investigators found a “burn box” at his Hollywood Hills home after serving a search warrant
Los Angeles Police Department detectives found a “burn box” at the Hollywood Hills home of musician D4vd.
LAPD robbery-homicide detective Joshua Byers testified at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, July 21 in a Los Angeles courtroom that investigators discovered the incinerator box behind a piano after serving a search warrant at his residence on Sept. 17, 2025.
“It’s a device that can be used as a mini crematorium type to burn items to nothing,” Byers said.
According to a preliminary hearing brief obtained by PEOPLE, the “burn box” was purchased on Amazon in the days after prosecutors believe Burke killed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez on April 23, 2025.
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Burke, 21, also allegedly purchased two chainsaws, a body bag, an inflatable pool and heavy duty laundry bags to destroy the teen’s remains.
Burke is charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with runaway’s death.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors have alleged that Burke fatally stabbed the teen from Lake Elsinore, Calif. on April 23 - one day after the two got into a lengthy argument over his relationships with other women and several days before the release of his debut album.
“She became extremely upset and threatened to disclose damaging information about her relationship with defendant to end his career and destroy his life,” claims the preliminary hearing brief.
He then allegedly dismembered her remains and hid them in two bags in the front trunk of his Tesla.
Rivas’ dismembered body parts were discovered at a Hollywood tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025, three days after the Tesla was impounded.
Her severely decomposed head and torso were found in a cadaver bag he allegedly purchased. In a garbage bag, authorities discovered the runaway’s arms and legs.
Her ring and pinky fingers on her left hand were also missing.
Prosecutors allege Rivas met Burke in January 2022 when she was just 11 years old, and began a sexual relationship in November 2023 when she was 13 and he was 18.
“Text exchanges between the victim and the defendant contain references to sex, pregnancy, abortion and use of the Plan B emergency contraceptive,” according to the brief. “There are also explicit photographs documenting and corroborating their sexual relationship.”
Per the brief, the two broke up in November 2024 but they continued to communicate and have sexual relations.
Burke is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or death. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has yet to decide whether to pursue the death penalty.
Read the original article on People
