L.A. prosecutor says D4vd’s cellphone contained child pornography
As the case involving the murder of 14-year old Celeste Rivas Hernandez picks up steam, a prosecuting attorney claims that “significant” amounts of child pornography were found on the rapper’s phone.
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Three days ago, rapper D4vd—born David Anthony Burke—was charged with the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. In court yesterday, L.A. County Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman alleged that a “significant amount of child pornography” was found on his phone. Burke is currently facing charges of first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a child, and corpse mutilation. He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday, April 20.
Prosecutors said a search of Burke’s iPhone, conducted under a search warrant, uncovered 40 terabytes of digital evidence, including a large amount of child sexual abuse material. They further alleged that Burke, who is 21, killed Hernandez—14 at the time of her death, and 13 when the alleged sexual abuse began—after she threatened to expose their illegal sexual relationship and “devastate his musical career.” Silverman also said that prosecutors convened for three secret investigative grand jury hearings after Hernandez’s death, in November, December, and February, to secure testimony against Burke, as reported by the LA Times.
Hernandez’s dismembered remains were found in the trunk of Burke’s Tesla last fall. She was last seen on January 25, and her date of death was listed as “on or about April 23, 2025.” In an autopsy report released this week, the L.A. County Medical Examiner said Hernandez died from “multiple penetrating injuries,” including stab wounds to the chest and abdomen, and ruled her death a homicide. Burke’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 1, when a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
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