Crime & Public Safety
Court hears abortion texts in D4vd murder case
A Los Angeles court has heard text messages that prosecutors said showed American singer D4vd asking a teenage girl about an abortion after a sexual encounter, during a hearing on whether there is enough evidence to prosecute him.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of killing Celeste Rivas Hernandez in April 2025 and dismembering her body with a chainsaw. Hernandez's decomposing body was found last September in the trunk of a Tesla registered in Burke's name after the car was towed to a Hollywood impound lot.
On the fourth day of the hearing, prosecutors reviewed dozens of messages between Burke and Hernandez from about a year before her death. According to the texts presented in court, Burke asked when she was going to have an abortion and then asked whether it was his. Hernandez replied that it was, according to the messages. She was 13 at the time.
Prosecutors have alleged in charging papers that Burke killed Hernandez after she threatened to make public what they described as a long-standing and illegal sexual relationship, which they said could have damaged his singing career. Burke became known in 2022 after his song "Romantic Homicide" spread widely on TikTok.
Burke has denied one count each of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.
Los Angeles Police Department detective Corey Farrell testified Friday that Burke's iPhone contained numerous photos showing him having sex with Hernandez. Dr. Grant Ho, who carried out the autopsy, also testified that it was extremely difficult to determine exactly how long Hernandez had been dead when her body was found because her remains were severely decomposed.
Defense lawyer Marilyn Bednarski questioned Ho in a way that suggested Hernandez might have injured herself or been killed during a struggle. Asked whether he could rule out that Hernandez had been holding the instrument that caused the wounds, Ho agreed that he could not. He added that he had not found hesitation marks usually seen in suicide and self-harm cases.
The preliminary hearing is expected to conclude on Monday.
Update
Prosecutors reviewed text messages in court that they said showed D4vd asking Celeste Rivas Hernandez about an abortion after a sexual encounter.
The texts presented in court included D4vd asking whether the pregnancy was his, with Hernandez replying that it was, according to the prosecution's presentation.
Hernandez was 13 at the time of the alleged exchange.
A Los Angeles police detective testified that Burke's iPhone contained numerous photos showing him having sex with Hernandez.
The autopsy doctor testified that the condition of the remains made it extremely difficult to determine how long Hernandez had been dead when found.
The defense questioned the autopsy doctor in a way that suggested Hernandez might have injured herself or been killed during a struggle.
The doctor said he had not found hesitation marks usually associated with suicide or self-harm cases.
The preliminary hearing is expected to conclude on Monday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 02:36:44 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The court hearing is preliminary and is to determine whether there is enough evidence to prosecute Burke.
The exact length of time Hernandez had been dead when her body was found was described by the autopsy doctor as extremely difficult to determine.
Burke denies the charges.
Source
AFP news report published on .