Newly revealed text messages allegedly exchanged between Celeste Rivas and D4vd show the teen threatening to destroy the singer’s career one day before she was killed, prosecutors said.
The messages were introduced in court Monday during the preliminary hearing for D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, in connection with Rivas’ murder.
Prosecutors highlighted a tense April 22, 2025 exchange in which Rivas appeared upset over another woman Burke had been spending time with. “Bro, just bump her into no friends, acquaintance. Friends with her over me is disturbing and disgusting to me on a deeper level David,” Rivas wrote.
Burke responded, “When did I say I’d end my friendship with you for her.” Rivas then texted back, “Bro, I said I didn’t want to be friends with you if you want to be friends with her.”
Rivas later accused Burke of bringing the woman to his Hollywood home.
“Oh my god, my f— god. I will kill you, I will f— kill you. She was in my seat. I will strangle you to death. I will end you career and life. I will tell my dad,” she texted.
The following day, April 23, 2025, Burke arranged an Uber to bring 14-year-old Rivas to his home, where prosecutors allege he stabbed her to death. Authorities have said the singer feared Rivas would damage his career by publicly revealing their alleged relationship.
The preliminary hearing has already featured a large volume of alleged evidence against Burke. On Friday, prosecutors presented text messages suggesting Rivas was 13 when she allegedly had an abortion after becoming pregnant by D4vd.
The alleged messages, presented during court proceedings Friday, show Rivas and David Anthony Burke discussing the pregnancy in January 2024, when Burke was 18, prosecutors said.
In the exchange, Burke allegedly apologized to Rivas, writing: “I’m sorry again baby i didnt want to ever put you through this.”
Burke also appeared to question whether he was the father, writing: “My mom said I have to ask this question, don’t get offended, but is it mine?”
“Of course it is David,” Rivas allegedly replied.
Messages from the following day, Jan. 9, 2024, allegedly suggested the abortion had been completed.
Autopsy photos were displayed earlier in the day but not before Rivas’ parents exited the courtroom.
Medical examiner Dr. Grant Ho was described Rivas’ upper and lower extremities being dismembered. Ho said each leg had two dismemberment sites — one below the thigh and one around the knee — possibly done by a power tool.
The courtroom also saw graphic photos of Rivas’ hands and fingers, some of which had also been removed. Photos of Rivas’ decomposing body were also shown to the courtroom.
At one point lawyers for accused murderer argued that his Rivas could have committed suicide.
The defense team for the musician said the possibility that Rivas stabbed herself couldn’t be ruled out, after medical examiner Dr. Grant Ho testified about two wounds found on the teen’s body.
When the doctor was asked by D4vd’s lawyers whether Rivas could have been “holding the instrument” that caused the wounds, Ho responded that “usually we would find hesitation marks.”
Ho also noted that Rivas’ cause of death was homicide die to “multiple penetrating injuries.”
Blood found in Burke’s garage tested positive for a match to Rivas. Prosecutors allege he stabbed her and watched as she bled out at his Hollywood Hills mansion on the night of April 23rd, and later dismembered her in a kiddie pool with a chainsaw.
Fragments from the pool found in Burke’s garage were later discovered by criminalists on Rivas’ body.
The hearing started dramatically last week when photos of Rivas’ badly decapitated body in the singer’s Tesla were displayed while Rivas’ parents were in the court room.
The 14-year-old’s family ignored the prosecutor’s request to look away as the shocking images were displayed in the Los Angeles courtroom.
The devastated couple were later spotted crying in the hall of the courthouse after viewing their daughter’s severed limbs, head, torso and fingers allegedly found in the trunk of D4vd’s Tesla.
The clothing in which Rivas was murdered was also revealed as her parents looked on.
Lisa Lahendro, an LAPD criminalist took the stand in a preliminary hearing for the singer D4vd, real name David Burke, who is accused of murdering the teen girl.
Lahendro described photographs shown of Rivas’ clothing that was discovered along with her body — including a Victoria’s Secret thong, a Forever 21 tube top and leggings.
“They wanted to show strength and they’re here for Celeste, but it was extremely bad,” an attorney for the Rivas family, Patrick Steinfeld, said outside the courthouse.
The singer was also charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances — lying in wait, murder of a witness to an investigation and murder for financial gain
He was also charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and for mutilating the human remains of a body.
The singer could face life in prison or possibly the death penalty.
