LOS ANGELES — Text messages presented in a California courtroom on Friday indicated that Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl whom singer D4vd is accused of killing, had undergone an abortion during her relationship with the artist, adding another layer to the evidence being reviewed in the high-profile criminal case.
The singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is facing multiple felony charges, including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The text messages were introduced during a preliminary hearing, where a judge is determining whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial. At this stage, the court is not deciding guilt or innocence but rather whether there is enough evidence to warrant a full criminal trial.
Text Messages Introduced as Evidence
During Friday’s hearing, prosecutors presented text messages that they said documented conversations between Burke and the teenage victim. According to testimony in court, the messages indicated that Celeste Rivas Hernandez had an abortion while the two were involved in a relationship.
The messages were introduced as part of the prosecution’s broader effort to establish the nature of the relationship between Burke and the victim. Court proceedings did not immediately provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the abortion or its relevance to the alleged crimes beyond its inclusion in the evidence presented.
As with all evidence introduced during a preliminary hearing, the claims presented by prosecutors have not yet been tested before a jury.
Serious Charges Against the Singer
Burke is accused of killing and dismembering the 14-year-old girl in a case that has drawn widespread public attention because of both the nature of the allegations and the defendant’s public profile.
Prosecutors allege that the victim’s body was dismembered after her death. Burke has denied the allegations through his not guilty plea.
In addition to the murder charge, he is accused of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, one of the most serious child abuse offenses under California law, as well as unlawful mutilation of human remains.
Discovery of the Victim’s Remains
Authorities have said the investigation began after Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains were discovered in September inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke.
The discovery prompted a lengthy investigation by law enforcement. Burke was ultimately arrested in April, several months after the remains were found, and prosecutors subsequently filed the charges now pending against him.
Preliminary Hearing Continues
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue as prosecutors present additional witnesses and evidence supporting the charges. Burke’s defense team will have an opportunity to challenge that evidence before the judge decides whether the case should move forward to trial.
If the judge determines that prosecutors have established probable cause, the case will proceed to a full trial, where a jury would ultimately decide Burke’s guilt or innocence.
For now, Burke remains presumed innocent under the law unless and until he is convicted in court. The allegations and evidence presented during the preliminary hearing represent the prosecution’s case and have not yet been adjudicated by a jury.
