Testimony presented during D4vd‘s preliminary hearing alleges Celeste Rivas’ family knew about her relationship with him before April 2025. According to Detective Corey Farrell’s testimony, investigators determined that Celeste’s parents, aunt, cousins, and adult sister were aware of the relationship. He also testified that D4vd attended church with members of her family and that Celeste’s parents signed a notarized travel consent form in September 2024 allowing her to travel to London with him for a week.
The defense argued this contradicts previous statements made by Celeste’s father, Jesus Rivas, through the family’s attorney, claiming he never had contact with D4vd and that the family never received money from him or his relatives. Defense attorneys also claimed that Celeste’s sister accompanied the pair to one of D4vd’s shows in Las Vegas.
Despite the defense’s arguments, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Prosecutors had presented evidence including text messages, forensic testimony, and gruesome photographs during the five-day preliminary hearing. D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of a body. Prosecutors allege Burke killed the 14-year-old after she threatened to expose their illegal sexual relationship.
D4vd is scheduled to return to court for his arraignment on August 31.
