Teen threatened to destroy D4vd's career before killing, messages show
Pop singer D4vd will stand trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Court evidence revealed threatening text messages exchanged between the two shortly before the victim's death.
Why it matters
The case highlights the intersection of celebrity culture, digital evidence in criminal proceedings, and severe violent crime involving minors.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez told the singer D4vd she would destroy his career and ruin his life roughly 24 hours before prosecutors say he killed the teenager, according to text messages made public Monday in court. After an argument about a relationship between a woman and the singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, the 14-year-old Hernandez exploded on him via text message on April 22, 2025, according to the evidence shown in court. The alternative pop singer’s debut album, “Withered,” was set to release three days later, on April 25. “oh my ... god I swear to GOD I will kill u she was in my dam seat i will strangle u to ... death bro,” Hernandez wrote. “I will tell my dad so many ... lies about u ...
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