The death certificate of Celeste Rivas has been officially updated, revealing new details in the murder case involving singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke. According to documents obtained by TMZ, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has reclassified the manner of death as 'homicide,' replacing the earlier status of 'pending investigation.' While the injury date, hour, place, and location remain 'unknown,' the section describing how the injury occurred now states 'with object(s).'
Pregnancy Status Changed to Unknown
In another significant update, the section addressing pregnancy status, which previously indicated Rivas was not pregnant, has been marked 'U' for unknown. This leaves open the possibility that she may have been pregnant at the time of her death.
Legal Proceedings Against D4vd
These developments come as legal proceedings continue against D4vd, who has been charged with multiple offenses, including murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege that D4vd killed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez by stabbing her multiple times. In court filings, they stated that the accused 'knew he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened,' adding that 'very soon after her arrival at his home, defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out.'
Text Messages and Phone Activity
Authorities have cited text messages and phone activity that roughly estimate the time of her death. Prosecutors obtained text messages between the two from April 22, 2025, the night before all her phone activity went quiet, and they believe she was killed that night. 'The messages reveal the victim’s jealousy over defendant’s relationships with other women, as defendant led her to believe they had a future together. She became extremely upset and threatened to disclose damaging information about her relationship with defendant to end his career and destroy his life,' the document states, according to the Associated Press.
Relationship Between D4vd and Celeste Rivas
Prosecutors further allege that D4vd met Celeste when she was 11, began a sexual relationship with her when she was 13 and he was 18, and allegedly killed her when she threatened to reveal their inappropriate relationship. Prosecutors revealed gruesome details about the disposal of Celeste's body, indicating that D4vd purchased chainsaws and dismembered the teen's body in an inflatable pool.
Court Hearing
Defense attorneys asked Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo at a hearing on Wednesday to seal the document, but she declined the request.
