Court Texts Indicate Teen in D4vd Murder Case Became Pregnant at 13 and Had Abortion
By Ayan Irfan | Reporter | SCN NEWS
Newly presented text messages indicate that 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez became pregnant at age 13 and later had an abortion, adding another disturbing layer to the criminal case against singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke.
The messages were shown during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles, where a judge is deciding whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for Burke to stand trial. An LAPD detective testified that conversations recovered from Burke’s phone discussed the pregnancy and abortion in early 2024.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, sexual abuse of a child and mutilation of human remains. His attorneys maintain that he did not kill Rivas Hernandez and was not responsible for her death.
What the Messages Allegedly Show
According to testimony, Burke and Rivas Hernandez exchanged messages about the pregnancy when she was 13. In one conversation, they discussed their inability to care for a child and described the abortion as the best available decision.
The prosecution presented the messages as evidence of a sexual relationship it alleges began when Burke was 18 and Rivas Hernandez was 13. The hearing also included testimony about photographs and other digital evidence recovered from Burke’s phone.
Because the evidence involves a child, SCN is not reproducing the explicit material described in court.
Prosecutors Present Their Motive Theory
Prosecutors allege Burke later killed Rivas Hernandez because he feared that disclosure of their relationship would destroy his rising music career.
They claim she was fatally attacked in April 2025 after threatening to expose him. This remains the prosecution’s allegation and has not yet been proved at trial. Burke’s defense has challenged both the alleged motive and the forensic case.
The preliminary hearing is not a trial determining guilt. Its purpose is to decide whether sufficient evidence exists for the case to proceed.
What the Autopsy Found
The Los Angeles County medical examiner classified Rivas Hernandez’s death as a homicide caused by penetrating injuries to her upper body.
Her remains were discovered months later in a Tesla registered to Burke after the vehicle had been taken to an impound lot. Severe decomposition limited parts of the medical examination, something defense lawyers may use in challenging the prosecution’s account.
Prosecutors have also presented testimony connecting DNA believed to be Rivas Hernandez’s to apparent bloodstains recovered from Burke’s garage. The defense has disputed the broader interpretation of that evidence.
Why the Pregnancy Evidence Matters
The pregnancy and abortion messages may be legally significant because prosecutors are attempting to establish:
- The alleged nature and duration of the relationship
- Burke’s knowledge of Rivas Hernandez’s age
- A possible motive for concealing the relationship
- The extent of communication between them before her death
However, the messages do not by themselves prove that Burke committed murder. Prosecutors must still establish each criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt if the case reaches trial.
Defense Maintains Burke’s Innocence
Burke’s attorneys have said the evidence will show that he did not murder Rivas Hernandez or cause her death.
During the preliminary proceedings, the defense has questioned the reliability and interpretation of forensic evidence, including aspects of the autopsy that were complicated by the condition of the remains.
Most Unique Fact
The newly disclosed messages indicate that the alleged relationship produced a pregnancy when Rivas Hernandez was only 13—more than a year before prosecutors say she was killed—making the digital evidence central to both the sexual-abuse charges and the alleged murder motive.
SCN Analysis
The hearing illustrates how digital records can become decisive evidence in modern criminal cases.
Texts, photographs, cloud backups and phone records may help establish relationships, timelines and possible motives long after events occur. But they must still be tested in court, where the defense can challenge their context, authenticity and interpretation.
The case also raises serious questions about child protection, online relationships and whether adults surrounding vulnerable minors recognize warning signs before tragedy occurs.