Text messages between D4vd and Celeste Rivas Hernandez reveal new details as singer in court over her death
Warning: This article contains content that some readers may find distressing.
D4vd allegedly discussed multiple abortions with Celeste Rivas Hernandez in a number of text message exchanges between the pair, a court has heard.
The US singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, as well as denying charges of 'lewd and lascivious acts' with a child under the age of 14, and mutilation of human remains.
A preliminary hearing is now underway where prosecutors are presenting evidence to establish probable cause.
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This has now included data recovered from a cell phone which was found in Burke's home when it was searched, which includes numerous messages between Burke and Celeste, as well as a cache of child sex abuse material, the court heard.
One section of the messages, which LAPD Detective Corey Farrell read out in court on Friday, appeared to concern an abortion that Celeste had in January 2024, and she was just 13 years old at the time.
Farrell also told the court that the phone had contained dozens of child sex abuse images involving Celeste, which prosecutors said could not be shown in court, Rolling Stone reported.
In messages dating from November 2023, prosecutors said that Celeste had told Burke that she was worried she was pregnant, with prosecutors alleging that it was around this time that the abuse started.
Farrell told the court that the evidence indicated Celeste had an abortion in January 2024, with Burke also asking her 'it is mine right?', which she told him it was.
Speaking about the decision to terminate the pregnancy, she wrote: "Neither of us are capable of watching and taking care of the baby. it's for the best no?"
On one occasion, Celeste had told Burke: “I can’t wait to move in together without the cops bitchin.” Meanwhile, he had spoken about wanting to assemble documentation to enable them to 'dip out the country n get married in Italy'.
Celeste would later become concerned again about being pregnant, writing: “What if the first abortion didn’t work.”
The court heard how Burke allegedly replied: “You would have a baby bump lmao you have hella periods since then, what you smoking.”
On June 19, she messaged: “I can see u and sleep over, just do not get me pregnant.”
Burke allegedly replied: “We’ve done a good job the past few months baby … The last and only time u were pregnant was because of a fucked up condom in December.”
In one message exchange from July 10, she had allegedly asked: “Does anyone know we even had sex?”
He responded: “Nope, and I would like to keep it that way before we married.”
On August 30 2024, Celeste had messaged Burke about the abortion.
She wrote: “Realistically I care about you. I killed my kid for you."
In another message, she said: “David, I’m going to have to lie to people around me, even my kid, for the rest of my life. I don’t like talking about it because it gets me really upset, but I’d do anything to have it back.”
Burke allegedly responded: “Let’s end that there. I don’t like talking to u when you’re upset.”
A pre-trial hearing happens when someone pleads not guilty to an offence, and is to allow the prosecution to establish probable cause in the case.
Following the pre-trial hearing, a decision is made on whether the case will go to full trial.
Kit Roberts