Disturbing new details have emerged about the horrifying way singer D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, allegedly groomed and eventually mutilated 14-year-old Celeste Rivas with a chainsaw, according to prosecutors.
Uber Ride to Hollywood Hills
On the night of April 23, Burke ordered an Uber to transport Rivas from her family home in Lake Elsinore to his Hollywood Hills residence, according to legal documents obtained by The California Post. Prosecutors claim that upon arrival, he stabbed her to death and stood by as she bled out.
Purchases to Destroy Evidence
The following day, Burke allegedly ordered a shovel from Home Depot, delivered via Postmates. About a week later, he ordered two chainsaws from Amazon. On May 5, he allegedly purchased a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, and a blue inflatable pool. All purchases were made under the fake name Victoria Mendez, according to the documents.
Investigators say Burke took horrifying measures to destroy and discard the victim’s body. He placed Rivas’ body into the inflatable pool to prevent blood from spreading on his garage floor and used the chainsaw, along with possibly other tools, to cut off her limbs. Plastic fragments found in Rivas’ remains matched those from the pool purchased on Amazon.
Amputation of Fingers
Burke also amputated Rivas’ left ring and pinky fingers because her ring finger bore a tattoo of his name. Those fingers were never recovered, according to the documents.
Evidence Discovered in Garage
In September 2025, investigators served a search warrant at Burke’s home. They discovered evidence consistent with dismemberment in the inflatable pool, which contained multiple linear cuts. Several biological samples testing positive for blood were collected from the garage area. The DNA matched Rivas, investigators said.
Background of the Relationship
The night before the alleged murder, Burke and Rivas had a lengthy argument over text messages because she was jealous of his relationships with other women. She threatened to disclose damaging information about their relationship to end his career, according to investigators.
Prosecutors revealed that Burke met Rivas when she was only 11 years old in January 2022. They began a sexual relationship in November 2023 when Rivas was 13 and Burke was 18. Rivas was reported missing by her family in February 2024, long before her murder. Detectives found Burke's phone number in her phone. When contacted, Burke claimed he was unaware she was a minor or that she had been reported missing.
Rivas’ family took her phone away once she was located safe, but Burke allegedly continued to pursue her, despite being informed she was a minor. He even drove to Lake Elsinore and paid a student in her class $1,000 to give Rivas a phone he had purchased so they could continue communicating. Text messages obtained by detectives suggest the sexual relationship continued.
Court Proceedings and Additional Evidence
Burke appeared in court for a procedural hearing, where his attorney expressed concern about alleged evidence becoming public. Last week, a significant amount of child pornography was allegedly found on Burke’s iPhone. Investigators gathered 40 terabytes of data through a lengthy investigation and also conducted a wiretap.
Cause of Death and Charges
Rivas died from multiple penetrating injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. Her dismembered body was discovered on September 8, 2025, in the trunk of a Tesla belonging to Burke. It took investigators several months to determine the cause and manner of death, reaching a conclusion on December 8, 2025.
Burke was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, murder of a witness to an investigation, and murder for financial gain. He was also charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old and mutilating human remains.
