The parents of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were shown gruesome images of her dismembered corpse during a preliminary hearing for rapper David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, who faces trial for her murder. The hearing, held on July 21, 2026, marked the first time evidence was laid out in detail, leaving Celeste's mother, Mercedes Martinez, sobbing throughout.
Evidence Revealed in Court
Prosecutors presented images of Celeste's torso and head found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, 21. The remains were discovered in September 2025 after the car was abandoned in a tow yard and employees complained of a foul smell. A homicide detective testified that Burke had ordered chainsaws, an inflatable pool, a shovel, and a body bag online days after her death. Detective Byers described opening a cadaver bag inside the Tesla to find decomposing human remains, including a head and torso, with a second bag containing severed limbs.
According to the family's lawyer, Patrick Steinfeld, the images were so graphic that the prosecutor had to ask what they were because the head was unrecognizable. 'It was absolutely deplorable,' Steinfeld told the BBC after the hearing. He added that the parents were told they 'won't unsee' those images, calling it a 'parent's worst nightmare.'
Details of the Case
Celeste was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, when she went to Burke's home in the Hollywood Hills. She had a matching 'Shhh' tattoo with Burke on her right index finger, shown in court photos. Burke also has a tattoo of her name. During a previous hearing in April 2025, prosecutors claimed Burke possessed a 'significant amount' of child pornography on his phone, with eight terabytes of data in iCloud storage, though only one terabyte has been downloaded so far.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, committing the crime for financial gain, murdering a witness to an investigation, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with a person under 14, and mutilation of a human body. The charges could make him eligible for the death penalty.
Impact on the Family
Steinfeld described the evidence as 'damning' and said it gets 'harder and harder' for the grieving family. He told TMZ that Celeste's body had liquefied and 'just looked like mush,' leaving even her head unrecognizable. Despite being advised she didn't have to be in the room, Celeste's mother insisted on attending to show support for her daughter. 'They're at a loss for words and they're just trying to do the best they can,' Steinfeld said.
