New court filings are shedding light on the prosecution’s case against David Burke, known professionally as “D4vd,” outlining a series of alleged actions tied to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas.
According to the New York Post, investigators claim Burke arranged for Rivas to be transported from her home in Lake Elsinore to his residence in the Hollywood Hills on April 23.
Prosecutors allege that after she arrived, Burke stabbed the teenager and “stood by while she bled out.”
The filings also describe a sequence of purchases in the days that followed. Investigators say Burke ordered a shovel the next day, followed by chainsaws, and later a body bag, heavy-duty bags, and an inflatable pool. Authorities claim these items were purchased under a false name.
According to the documents, Burke then “took horrifying measures to destroy and discard the victim’s body.”
Investigators allege the body was placed inside the pool in a garage before being dismembered.
Authorities say physical evidence recovered during a search of the home in September 2025 supported those claims. “Several biological samples, which tested positive for blood, were collected within the garage area,” the documents state, adding that the DNA matched Rivas.
Prosecutors also outlined the relationship between Burke and Rivas, alleging the two met when she was 11 and later began a sexual relationship when she was 13.
The filings describe a dispute between the two shortly before her death, with Rivas allegedly threatening to reveal details of their relationship.
Investigators said Rivas had previously been reported missing in early 2024. After she was located, authorities claim Burke continued to contact her, including allegedly providing her with a phone through a third party.
Rivas’ body was discovered on Sept. 8, 2025, in the trunk of a vehicle belonging to Burke. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office later determined she died from “multiple penetrating injuries.”
Burke has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, along with additional charges related to alleged sexual conduct with a minor and mutilation of human remains.
He has pleaded not guilty.
In a statement released through their attorney, Rivas’ family said they were “absolutely devastated by the findings contained in the Medical Examiner’s Report involving the horrible and gruesome death of their beloved daughter.”
Burke remains in custody in Los Angeles as the case moves forward, with a preliminary hearing scheduled to begin Friday.
