The investigation into Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death has taken a significant turn with the release of the medical examiner’s findings. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner determined that the 15-year-old died from multiple penetrating injuries and classified the death as a homicide. The report had been completed months earlier but remained sealed while investigators continued examining the case.
D4vd murder case reveals new details about Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death
The newly released findings provide the clearest official account yet of the injuries that caused Celeste’s death. According to the medical examiner, the teenager suffered multiple penetrating injuries caused by an object or objects. The examination also identified traumatic injuries, while toxicology testing produced presumptive positive results for benzodiazepines and methamphetamine/MDMA.The report was completed on December 9, 2025, several months after Celeste’s remains were discovered. The medical examiner’s office said a court order had prevented the findings from being released earlier. Officials ultimately made the determination public on April 22, 2026.The circumstances surrounding the discovery made the case particularly disturbing. Celeste’s remains were found inside the front trunk of a vehicle at a Los Angeles tow yard in September 2025. By then, investigators said her body had undergone severe postmortem changes, indicating that significant time had passed since her death.The medical examiner classified the manner of death as homicide. That finding establishes how the death occurred from a forensic perspective, but it does not by itself determine who was responsible.
D4vd maintains innocence as murder case moves forward
Singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Celeste’s death. Prosecutors have also brought additional allegations against him, while Burke’s attorneys have strongly rejected the accusations.His legal team said the evidence presented at trial will establish that Burke was not responsible for Celeste’s death.“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,” his attorneys, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, said in a statement on Monday. “We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”That position is now set against the medical examiner’s homicide determination and the broader investigation. Burke has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail, according to the case information provided by ABC News.For Celeste’s family, the release of the report has brought painful answers rather than closure. Her parents described their daughter as a “beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance” and said they want justice for her.“We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply,” her parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, said. “All we want is justice for Celeste.”The medical examiner’s findings may become an important piece of evidence as the prosecution and defense prepare their cases. The next stages will focus not only on how Celeste died, but also on what investigators can prove about the events that led to her death. For now, the homicide ruling adds a crucial forensic finding to a case that remains before the courts.
