Family of teen victim leaves Los Angeles courtroom before autopsy testimony

The parents of Celeste Rivas, a 14-year-old girl whose death is being investigated as a homicide, left a Los Angeles courtroom shortly before Deputy Medical Examiner Grant Ho was scheduled to testify about the autopsy report. The family’s attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, remained in the courtroom while the parents departed.

Ho described the body as weighing 71 pounds and noted significant decomposition and trauma to the extremities, including the presence of braces discovered during the examination. The testimony is part of a preliminary hearing in which singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, is accused of stabbing Rivas and dismembering her body.

"They wanted to show strength and they’re here for Celeste, but it was extremely bad," Steinfeld said outside the courthouse, adding that the mother was visibly upset.

Ho’s testimony is expected to continue on Friday.