The last text messages between Celeste Rivas Hernandez and D4vd, who is charged with murder and other offenses in connection with her April 2025 death, have been revealed in court.
During the fifth day of his preliminary hearing on Monday, July 27, Los Angeles Police Department robbery-homicide detective Corey Farrell continued his testimony, detailing the final messages sent between Rivas and the singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke.
One day before prosecutors say Burke fatally stabbed the 14-year-old girl, with whom he was having an illegal sexual relationship, the two argued over his friendship with another woman.
“And u rlly saying youd [sic] end ur friendship just to be friends w her over me is disturbing and disgusting to me on a deeper level david,” the 14-year-old wrote to Burke on April 22, 2025.
Burke allegedly responded, “what did i say id [sic] end my friendship with you for her.” Rivas later texted that she would “end your career and your life.”
The next day, April 23, 2025, Rivas asked to see Burke, saying he had “1 more chance” to tell her the “truth.” She also threatened to “leak all of the s–t” on him if she saw him with the friend again.
Later that night, the texts show Burke ordered an Uber for Rivas from near her Lake Elsinore, Calif., residence to his West Hollywood home. At 8:34 p.m., Burke texted Rivas updates on the Uber’s arrival. She replied, “okkk.”
At 10:01 p.m., Rivas texted, “girly pop im almost there open your door if you are home.” Burke responded, “got you,” and about 10 minutes later added, “gate open door unlocked.”
Rivas never sent another text. Prosecutors believe she died between 10:10 p.m. and 10:31 p.m. on April 23, 2025 — two days before the release of Burke’s debut album.
About 20 minutes later, Burke sent a series of messages asking where Rivas was. At 11:37 p.m., he texted, “bro,” then minutes later wrote he was going to call someone because “ur scaring me.” Around midnight, he sent another message: “where are you please.”
Prosecutors also allege Burke’s phone and car left the area of his home at 11:31 p.m. that night and repeatedly traveled to an area in Santa Barbara. California Highway Patrol Officer Sean Buenrostro previously testified that a transport worker found Rivas’ passport at that location in Santa Barbara on Jan. 7, 2026.
On Friday, July 24, other text messages between Burke and Rivas shown in court discussed a pregnancy and abortion. According to Farrell’s testimony, the pair exchanged multiple texts during their illegal sexual relationship about abortion, birth control, Plan B, the emergency contraceptive pill, and breaking up.
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A memorial made for slain teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty
More than 40 images of child 𝒔𝒆𝒙 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 involving Rivas were found on Burke’s iPhone as well as several photos of the two engaging in sexual activity, Farrell has testified.
During Friday’s testimony, Rivas’ mother, Mercedes Martinez, became visibly upset before she was encouraged by Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman to leave the courtroom.
“This is too much,” Silverman said. “I know how hard this is.”
Prosecutors allege the two began communicating on August 8, 2022, when Rivas was 11 years old and began the sexual relationship in November 2023 when she was 13 and he was 18.
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A sketch of David “D4vd” Burke in court.
Mona Shafer Edwards / BACKGRID
Rivas’ remains were discovered in two bags in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla, on Sept. 8, 2025, three days after his Tesla was impounded near his Hollywood Hills home.
On March 14, a month before her slaying, Rivas allegedly texted Burke that “we can be friends online and I don’t want to have anything to do with you in person anymore.”
“All we do is have 𝒔𝒆𝒙 and hang out man, i want more for myself, without a label too is insane,” she allegedly wrote.
“it’s not even that david. I want more than just that,” she replied.
Los Angeles County deputy medical examiner Grant Ho testified last week that Rivas suffered two penetrating injuries — one to the right abdomen that injured her liver and the other to the left lower chest area of her body that damaged her ribs.
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D4vd’s mugshot.
MEGA/TheMegaAgency.com
Ho said that because of the severe decomposition of her body it was impossible to tell what type of weapon was used in her death, which he ruled a homicide.
Ho, who performed the autopsy on the teen, said Rivas would have lived just minutes or potentially up to an hour after sustaining the injuries. He also said it was too difficult to tell when the girl died, though she had been dead for at least several weeks.
Prosecutors allege Burke dismembered and disposed of Rivas’ body parts with items he bought online from Amazon and Home Depot including a shovel, three chainsaws, two “City Morgue” cadaver bags, two heavy-duty laundry bags and a “Tornado Spin” mop and bucket combo.
Investigators also found a “burn 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,” Los Angeles Police Department detective Joshua Byers testified.
