D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Musician D4vd is facing murder charges following his high-profile arrest in the murder of teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Editor’s note: This story contains graphic imagery that some readers may find disturbing.
The cause of death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the boy found “dismembered and badly decomposed” in the trunk of singer D4vd’s registered car, has been announced for the first time in seven months.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office announced Wednesday, April 22, that Rivas-Hernandez, who is suspected of murder, died from “multiple penetrating wounds.”
Her body was examined by a deputy medical examiner on September 10, two days after it was found in the front trunk of a vehicle that had been stored at a Los Angeles towing yard for several days.
A deputy medical examiner determined Rivas-Hernandez suffered “two penetrating wounds” to the right side of his abdomen and left chest, resulting in multiple amputation, according to a coroner’s report obtained by USA TODAY.
The day before the medical examiner’s findings were announced, Rivas Hernandez’s family released a statement remembering her as “a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance.”
“Every Friday night we had movie night and we had a wonderful time together. We love her very much and she always told us she loved us. We miss her very much,” the statement read. “All we want is justice for Celeste.”
Why Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s cause of death was announced after 7 months
The announcement came two days after D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke) appeared in court for the first time in the case, pleading not guilty to felony charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of a corpse. He is jailed without bail.
According to the New York Times, during his April 20 arraignment, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered the release of the autopsy report for Rivas-Hernandez.
The cause and manner of Rivas Hernandez’s death were revealed on December 9th. However, the Los Angeles Police Department asked the judge to keep the case confidential, and no details were made public until now.
“After several months, we are grateful that this information can be made available to the public as well as to grieving families,” Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odei Ukpo said in a statement.
“It is incredible that we had to wait this long to find out what happened to our daughter. The transparency of our findings and the information contained in our report is essential to help communities make informed changes, emotionally reduce fear, and empower communities to take informed action,” Ukpo said.
Ukpo said providing access to information about Rivas-Hernandez’s death will help “strengthen our ability to learn and act, and ultimately prevent the next tragic loss of life.”
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body posed a challenge for coroners
At an April 20 press conference by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the condition of Rivas-Hernandez’s body hindered the coroner’s process to determine the cause of death.
The coroner’s report said the boy’s body showed “significant post-mortem changes.”
Prosecutors said Rivas-Hernandez was 14 years old, but her 15th birthday would have been Sept. 7, but the medical examiner’s office confirmed that she was 15.
Los Angeles Police Department detectives said on Sept. 8 in an investigator’s story included in the coroner’s report that a “black Tesla” Model X with Texas license plates was reported by a passerby on Aug. 26, according to a preliminary investigation. The vehicle was picked up by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation on September 3rd and towed away on September 5th.
Three days later, on September 8, “a caretaker noticed a strange odor coming from the vehicle and called the police,” and LAPD detectives arrived at the scene and “discovered a large black zippered body bag with a handle.”
Rivas Hernandez could not be immediately identified due to the condition of his body. On September 16, the body was identified as that of Rivas Hernandez after comparing dental X-rays.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said she had been missing for nearly a year and a half, but her body was found in two bags in her car.
“When[Rivas-Hernandez]threatened to expose her criminal activities and ruin her music career, Burke allegedly murdered her, dismembered her body, and stuffed it into two bags placed in the front trunk of his car,” Hochman said. “This horrific and gruesome murder by an accused sex offender is shocking and horrifying. To Celeste’s loved ones, we will get you the justice you seek and deserve.”
