Celeste Rivas Hernandez's autopsy had revealed a missing ring finger that had a 'David' tattoo. D4vd's first hearing revealed the singer also had Celeste Rivas' name tattooed on his left ring finger.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleSinger David Burke, better known by his stage name D4vd, is facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder and mutilation of a corpse in connection with the gruesome killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
New details emerged during the first day of singer D4vd's preliminary hearing, where prosecutors presented evidence linking the artist to the killing of Celeste. Among the revelations was a tattoo bearing the teen's name on D4vd's left ring finger, a detail that mirrors tattoos that the victim had before her death.
During the preliminary dayslong hearing held on Tuesday, an investigator who has been actively involved in the case spoke up about their initial findings when they arrested David. The investigator told the court that cops noticed the word "Celeste" tattooed on D4vd's left ring finger when he was booked into jail.
Jurors were reportedly shown booking photographs displaying the faded tattoo, along with a "Shhh" tattoo on his right index finger and a religious inscription on his right palm. These tattoos are significant because Celeste's ring finger also had David's name tattooed on it. The prosecutors allege that those identifying fingers were intentionally removed after the teen was killed.
The testimony comes months after the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released findings from Celeste's autopsy. Back in April 2026, the officials released spine-chilling details about the teen's murder, based on whatever was left of Celeste's dismembered and significantly decomposed body, discovered in singer David Burke's (D4vd) black Tesla at a Hollywood Hills tow yard.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Celeste died from multiple penetrating injuries, and her death was officially ruled a homicide. The report described two wounds to her torso, one to the chest and another to the abdomen, both believed to be caused by a sharp object.
The pictures showed Celeste Rivas Hernandez's limbless torso in one black plastic bag and her dismembered arms and legs in another. A picture also showed her knee with flecks of blue plastic. According to the prosecutors, it is allegedly from the inflatable pool they claim the singer used while dismembering Celeste's body. A close-up of her left hand showed that her ring and pinky fingers had been cut off.
Authorities confirmed the teen had been killed and then was dismembered, with parts missing. Investigators found that her left ring finger and pinky finger had been amputated, while her right index finger bearing the "Shhh" tattoo remained intact.
The newly revealed evidence presented in court appears to support prosecutors' argument that the missing ring finger allegedly carried D4vd's name. However, what shocked everyone was the sheer lack of emotion on the prime suspect's face when the gruesome photos of the victim were shown to the court.
The preliminary hearing also revisited allegations surrounding purchases D4vd allegedly made after Celeste's death. Prosecutors previously claimed the singer bought two chainsaws through Amazon following the alleged killing. However, an investigator testified Tuesday that authorities recovered only one, while the second chainsaw has never been located.
Prosecutors claim D4vd killed Celeste using a sharp object on April 23, 2025, then allegedly waited weeks before dismembering her body, placing the remains in bags, and storing them in his Tesla’s front trunk for several months before they were found. Currently, the Romantic Homicide singer is facing charges of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
A witness reportedly testified to the court about D4vd's financial success before his arrest. The singer allegedly generated an estimated USD 12 million in gross earnings between 2023 and 2025. The court also heard he received an advance of roughly USD 600,000 after signing with Interscope Records in 2022, followed by another larger payment later.
David's murder trial hearing included graphic evidence showing the condition in which Celeste's remains were discovered. Before prosecutors displayed disturbing photographs, the teen's family was warned they could look away. Instead, they chose to remain focused on the evidence throughout the proceedings.
D4vd has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
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