Prosecutors claim D4vd had a ‘significant amount’ of child pornography on his phone
Prosecutors on Thursday claimed that they found a “significant amount” of child pornography on singer D4vd’s iPhone after they went through the device.
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested by Los Angeles authorities on Thursday, April 16, in connection with the murder of Celeste Rivas, the teen whose decomposed and chopped-up body was found in a Tesla owned by the singer. He was subsequently charged on Monday, April 20, and he pleaded not guilty.
Per TMZ, the 21-year-old made a court appearance on Thursday, April 23, for a status hearing on his pending May 1 preliminary hearing. Thursday marked the first year since D4vd allegedly murdered Rivas with a “sharp instrument.”
Though prosecutors claimed that D4vd had a “significant amount” of child pornography on his phone, it could not be established whether Rivas was part of that explicit content.
Prosecutors also claimed that the investigations included a wiretap, adding that it was used last year.
D4vd is accused of murdering Rivas on April 23, 2025, before he mutilated her body on May 5th. Authorities claim that Rivas’ dismembered body was put in two bags, and it had been in the trunk of D4vd’s Tesla for four months.
Rivas is said to have gone to D4vd’s residence in Hollywood Hills in April 2025, and that was the last time she was heard from.
D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, mutilating a body, and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. The special circumstances comprise lying in wait, committing the crime for financial gain, and murdering a witness to an investigation, TMZ reported.
D4vd is accused of having a sexual relationship with Rivas, with D.A. Nathan Hochman claiming that he killed the teen to save his career after she threatened to make their sexual relationship public.
But following his arrest, D4vd’s attorneys released a statement saying that their client had nothing to do with Rivas’ murder.
“Let us be clear – the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death,” the statement partly said.
His attorneys also said that they will “vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
Rivas’ family later released their first statement after the singer was arrested and charged in connection with the teen’s murder.
“We would like to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for their hard work. We would also like to thank the people of Lake Elsinore for all their support. Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together,” Rivas’ parents, Jesus and Mercedes, said in a statement provided by their attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, per the New York Post.
“We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is Justice for Celeste.”
Steinfeld also shared the family’s reaction after they heard the particulars of the case, saying that they were left devastated.
READ ALSO: Celeste Rivas: Teen whose decomposed body was found in D4vd’s Tesla laid to rest
