US singer D4vd has been accused of purchasing tools online, including chainsaws, after prosecutors allege he stabbed a 14-year-old girl to death. The allegations were detailed in a court filing released on Wednesday, which outlines his alleged motive and steps taken to cover up the crime.
Prosecutors say D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, met Celeste Rivas Hernandez when she was 11 and began sexually abusing her at age 13, when he was 18. They allege the teen threatened to expose their relationship, leading to her death. Burke has pleaded not guilty.
The court filing states that after the alleged murder, Burke bought two chainsaws, an inflatable blue pool, a body bag, a shovel, and a "burn cage" using a fake name. Prosecutors believe he planned to incinerate evidence. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Burke was the last person to drive his Tesla, where the dismembered body was found in September 2025.
Burke appeared in court on Wednesday, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and shackled. His attorneys argued to seal the nine-page filing, citing concerns about media coverage affecting a fair trial. The judge allowed the document's release but agreed to keep other evidence sealed.
Rivas Hernandez was reported missing in 2024. Prosecutors say text messages show a lengthy argument on April 22, 2025, over Burke's relationships with other women, followed by the teen's death the next day. Burke's debut album was released on April 25, 2025.
The case has drawn international attention since Rivas Hernandez's body was found in Burke's Tesla. He faces charges including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of remains.