Prosecutors allege singer D4vd killed Celeste Rivas Hernandez with a sharp instrument, then mutilated her body in an attempt to conceal the crime, according to newly filed Los Angeles County court documents.
The allegations were detailed Monday as prosecutors formally charged the artist with first-degree murder, mutilation of a body, and lewd acts involving a child under 14. Authorities say the filing outlines their theory of how Hernandez died after previously disclosing only that her death had been ruled a homicide.
Investigators claim Hernandez went to D4vd’s Hollywood Hills home in April 2025 and was never heard from again. Prosecutors reportedly list April 23, 2025, as the date they believe the killing occurred, while alleging the body was mutilated on May 5.
Officials further claim the teen’s dismembered remains were later recovered in bags and that the condition of the body made it difficult for the Medical Examiner to promptly determine the exact cause of death. Investigators are also reviewing an alleged trip D4vd took to a remote area of Santa Barbara during that same timeframe.
The complaint includes special-circumstance allegations of lying in wait, financial gain, and killing a potential witness. District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said prosecutors believe Hernandez threatened to expose an alleged sexual relationship, and that the defendant acted to protect his career.
Defense attorneys denied the accusations, telling TMZ that D4vd “was not the cause of her death.”
The singer was arrested last week in what police described as a major law enforcement operation. If convicted of the most serious charge, he could face severe penalties under California law.
D4vd remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
