The 21-year-old -- whose real name is David Anthony Burke -- now faces a first-degree murder charge along with other counts, including having sex with someone under the age of 14 and mutilating human remains.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty if convicted as charged.
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On Monday, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell shared more about the relationship between D4vd and the young girl.
"During the course of our investigation, detectives learned that she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Mr. Burke when she was a minor and he was an adult. On April 23, 2025, Ms. Rivas arrived at Mr. Burke's home in the Hollywood Hills. That's the last time she was known to be alive," McDonnell said at a press conference on Monday.
Last September, Celeste's dismembered and decomposed body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd.
Now, many are wondering what will happen next in the case now that the charges have been filed. Eyewitness News spoke to legal experts about their analysis of the charges and special circumstances filed.
Based on the felony complaint and based on what District Attorney Nathan Hochman said on Monday, we now have a sense of what prosecutors believe happened to Celeste.
D4vd isn't just being charged with first-degree murder. He's being charged with murder with three special circumstances:
- Prosecutors say the murder was for financial gain.
- The victim, Celeste, was a witness to a crime.
- D4vd killed her by means of lying in wait, meaning the murder was deliberate.
"What their theory appears to be is that D4vd entered into a sexual relationship with an underage girl. At some point, D4vd became concerned, either through the girl or a third party, that this was gonna be reported to an investigating agency, and that he then lured her to his house, killed her, and dismembered her to avoid her going to the police," said former prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney R.J. Dreiling.
It's a brutal theory, but the facts are just as brutal when it comes to the murder of the 14-year-old girl.
Hochman says his prosecutors are ready to prove the theory beyond a reasonable doubt.
LA County DA announces murder charge against D4vd in killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
"What makes us confident is the totality of the evidence," he said at Monday's press conference.
Hochman says forensic evidence -- some of it likely from D4vd's Tesla, where Celeste's body was found in two bags -- as well as physical and digital evidence will prove D4vd committed the crime.
On top of murder, the 21-year-old singer is also charged with one count of continuous sexual acts, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and one count of mutilating the human remains of a body.
SEE ALSO: D4vd charged with murder: Timeline of investigation into 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez's death
Prosecutors say since 2023, D4vd had "substantial sexual conduct" at least three times with Celeste, who was just 14 when she was murdered, but was 13 years old when she was last reported missing by her family.
"They have established that there was this long relationship that took place, and that really puts D4vd on the hook here," said former prosecutor Mary David.
David says that from what she saw Hochman present on Monday, she thinks he's building a strong case against D4vd.
"There isn't necessarily one smoking gun, but there are just so many pieces that cannot be ignored when you look at the situation overall," David said.
D4vd's legal team says the evidence will clear their celebrity client and that "[They] will vigorously defend David's innocence."
"What I expect the defense to argue is to say, 'Look, you guys had this case in September or October. It's been a long time, and you don't really have the smoking gun. You're just piecing together circumstances rather than telling people how exactly she died, and what exactly D4vd did,'" Dreiling said.
If prosecutors get D4vd convicted with the special circumstances, they could pursue the death penalty when it comes time to sentence.
Hochman did not say if he has decided yet if that's the route he wants to take.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order halting executions in the state, but that doesn't stop convicted criminals from receiving the sentence.
READ MORE: Who is D4vd? Singer arrested in 14-year-old's death started as video game streamer
Who is D4vd? Singer arrested in 14-year-old's death started as video game streamer