Court reveals text messages showing singer D4vd discussed teen's failed abortion before killing her.

New evidence in court has exposed a dark chapter involving singer D4vd and the 14-year-old girl he is accused of killing. Text messages revealed that Celeste Rivas Hernandez had an abortion just over a year before her death. David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, faces first-degree murder charges alongside continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and mutilation of human remains. He has pleaded not guilty to every single count.

Prosecutors displayed these disturbing texts Friday at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles. In one exchange from June 2024, Celeste was only 13 while Burke was 19. She asked him what would happen if their first abortion failed. Burke replied that they should let this procedure be the last one until they got married and had a real baby. About five months prior, he apologized for putting her through such pain. The teenager agreed it was for the best since neither of them could care for an infant.

Investigators confirmed Celeste underwent the abortion in January 2024 according to testimony from LAPD Detective Corey Farell. Data pulled from Burke's iPhone showed their correspondence began on August 8, 2022 when she was just 11 and he was 17. Messages discussed contraception and pregnancy plans extensively. The device also held photos of Celeste taken during the alleged abuse.

Farell described how Burke's lock screen featured an image of the two embracing while topless. Investigators found sexually explicit photos and videos on the phone that prosecutors used to illustrate their relationship. This footage appeared to have been recorded inside Burke's bedroom. The content included images of both individuals naked and engaged in sexual acts plus close-up shots of their genitals.

The graphic nature of the description caused Celeste's parents to leave the courtroom immediately. Her mother, Mercedes Martinez, was sobbing as she walked out. Prosecutor Beth Silverman apologized to the family for what they had to hear. Burke remained mostly expressionless while Farell testified about the findings on his phone. The sexually explicit footage itself was not shown in court but its existence confirmed a deeply troubling dynamic between the accused and the victim.

Celeste's mother left the courtroom while Burke kept his eyes fixed ahead, LAmag reported. The court learned that around February 2024, Burke and Celeste mapped out a scheme for the teen to flee home and live with the singer. Prosecutors called this plot 'Operation Awesome,' based on phone chats found on Burke's device. One missing person report from that same month matches the timeline, though she came back to her family before the tragedy ended it.

Burke was taken into custody in April. He has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of a body. The prosecution argues he stabbed Celeste to death after she warned him she would 'destroy his life.' Texts displayed at trial show the couple technically 'broke up' in November 2024 yet kept talking long after.

The preliminary brief states Burke 'continued to manipulate' her through March 2025. She sent a message saying, 'All we do is have sex and just hang out man I want more than that for myself,' according to court documents. By April 22, jealousy was eating at her as she worried about his time spent with other women. The filing says she then 'threatened to disclose damaging information about her relationship with defendant to end his career and destroy his life.'

Burke had a first studio album dropping soon and an 'emerging multi-million-dollar career already in progress' hanging in the balance, prosecutors noted. That night at roughly 10:10pm, he allegedly ordered an Uber to drive Celeste from her family's Lake Elsinore home to his rental unit in the Hollywood Hills. The filing claims he stabbed her multiple times and watched as she bled out.

Allegations also say Burke cut off Celeste's left finger, which bore a tattoo of his name. He supposedly stuffed her body into the front trunk of his Tesla and parked it on the street near his Doheny Place rental. The car did not surface until September 8, when authorities towed it after neighbors complained about a terrible smell from inside. LAPD officers arrested Burke on April 16, and he remains held without bail. His preliminary hearing to decide if enough evidence exists for trial continues Monday at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.