Prosecutors Confirm 14-Year-Old Victim Was Not Pregnant at Time of Death
Los Angeles County prosecutors said Celeste Rivas was not pregnant when she was killed, clarifying earlier confusion caused by an amendment to her death certificate.
Los Angeles County District Attorney officials said a review of medical records confirmed that 14-year-old Celeste Rivas was not pregnant at the time of her death in April 2025. The clarification follows an amendment to her death certificate that had raised questions about her condition.
The statement was issued after prosecutors presented an 18-month record of text messages exchanged between Rivas and David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, during his preliminary hearing. The messages, which prosecutors described as containing discussions about missed periods, ovulation, emergency contraception and pregnancy concerns, also referenced an alleged pregnancy and abortion in January 2024 when Rivas was 13.
According to the prosecution, the relationship between the teenagers deteriorated by early 2025, with Rivas reportedly threatening to reveal information that could damage Burke's career. Prosecutors allege that Burke arranged for an Uber to transport Rivas to his Hollywood Hills residence the night after the confrontation, where she was fatally stabbed and later dismembered. Her remains were discovered months later in two bags inside his Tesla.
A judge ruled on Monday that sufficient evidence exists for Burke to stand trial on charges that include murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.