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Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.As singer D4vd's preliminary hearing in the alleged killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez continued Friday, July 24, a Los Angeles County medical examiner testified that the 14-year-old died from injuries consistent with possible stab wounds and could have taken "minutes, at least" and "potentially" up to an hour to bleed to death.Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner Dr. Grant Ho testified that the injuries, which caused internal trauma, included one that pierced Rivas Hernandez's liver and another that damaged her ribs. He expanded on the medical examiner's previous finding that she died from "two penetrating wounds" to her right abdomen and left chest.Ho also said he could not determine when Rivas Hernandez died because of the advanced state of decomposition."It's extremely difficult to tell," Ho said, according to the Associated Press.Still, he estimated she had been dead for "at least weeks." When Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman asked whether that timeframe could have extended to four or five months, Ho replied, "Potentially."According to prosecutors, the 21-year-old musician, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, and Rivas Hernandez allegedly began a romantic relationship in January 2022, when she was 11 and he was 16. Prosecutors allege Burke killed the teen, who was last seen alive April 23, 2025, after she threatened to expose the relationship, which they say would have damaged his career ahead of the release of his debut album that month.Rivas Hernandez's remains were found in an impounded Tesla at a Los Angeles tow yard on Sept. 8, about five months after prosecutors allege she was killed.The medical examiner's April report described Rivas Hernandez's body as "dismembered and badly decomposed." Prosecutors have also alleged Burke removed a tattoo of his name from her body.Ho testified, according to the New York Post, that Rivas Hernandez's arms and legs had been dismembered. He said each leg showed two separate points of dismemberment, including one near the thigh and another around the knee, and that a power tool may have been used.The court was also shown autopsy photos, including images of Rivas Hernandez's hands and fingers, some of which had been removed, the New York Post reported. Ho also testified that her left eye was missing and portions of her skull had been reduced to skeletal remains.The graphic evidence "brought uncomfortable shifting in seats and murmurs in the courtroom," the Associated Press reported. Burke did not look at the images, according to the New York Post.Rivas Hernandez's parents were not in the courtroom.Thursday's testimony included forensic evidence connecting blood found on several items in Burke's garage to Rivas Hernandez. LAPD homicide detective Joshua Byers also described the scene where her remains were discovered, telling the court that "there were maggots, there were flies," according to NY Post.On Wednesday Burke's second day in court focused on prosecutors' argument that the singer had a financial motive as prosecutors brought forward witnesses to testify about why he allegedly killed the Lake Elsinore, California, teen last year.Benjamin Greger, a member of Burke's management team, and Louis Poimiroo, senior vice president of finance at his former music label, Interscope Records, discussed the money Burke was earning in the years preceding Rivas Hernandez's death. During Burke's contract with the label, which began in 2022 and ended in December 2025, he earned around $7 million, Poimiroo testified, according to CBS News and The New York Times.The outlets reported that Greger testified that the musician's assets totaled more than $10 million.Special charges in the case allege that Burke killed the teen "for financial gain," "knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career" by going public with "damaging information about her relationship" with Burke," prosecutors alleged in their brief detailing evidence for the preliminary hearing, which was filed April 29.Burke faces several criminal felony charges after the remains of Rivas Hernandez, who was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, were found in the trunk of a car registered in his name in September. The teen was from Lake Elsinore, California, a city around 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles.Burke was arrested on April 16 for first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The special circumstances include "lying in wait, committing this crime for financial gain or murdering a witness in an investigation," the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office revealed on April 20.He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody without bail. His attorneys have vowed to "vigorously defend David's innocence."The preliminary hearing began Tuesday, July 21, and is expected to last several days. A judge will determine whether the case will proceed to trial.D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas HernandezMusician D4vd is facing murder charges following his high-profile arrest in the slaying of teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez.D4vd, Celeste Rivas Hernandez timeline: What authorities say happenedAccording to prosecutors, Rivas Hernandez and Burke were allegedly in a romantic relationship that began in 2022, when she was 11 and he was 16. On April 23, 2025, prosecutors allege, Burke killed Rivas Hernandez after she threatened to expose the relationship, which would have damaged his career ahead of the release of his debut album that month.Police had previously spoken with Burke in February 2024 when Rivas Hernandez's family reported her missing. He "claimed he had spoken to" her days earlier, "but stated he was unaware she was a minor or that she had been reported missing," according to the district attorney's office filing.Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputies then conducted a welfare check at Burke's home, where he allegedly told them he met Rivas Hernandez once in November 2023. Rivas Hernandez was 13 and Burke was 18 at that time, which was when prosecutors allege the relationship turned sexual.Two days after she was reported missing, Rivas Hernandez returned home and her parents confiscated her phone. However, prosecutors allege Burke purchased a new phone and paid Rivas Hernandez's classmate $1,000 to give it to her so they could stay in contact.Burke allegedly took Rivas Hernandez on trips around the country and abroad, but the pair broke up in November 2024, per the filing. The district attorney's office said messages obtained by investigators "suggest they also continued to have sexual relations."Records showed that Rivas Hernandez and Burke got into an argument via text on April 22, 2025. Prosecutors said the next day, "all cellular activity ceased."On the evening of April 23, 2025, Burke allegedly booked an Uber from Rivas Hernandez's family home to his house and began messaging her asking where she was about 20 minutes after she arrived. The district attorney's office characterized Burke's behavior as evidence of "premeditated plan to cover up the murder, as she was already dead by this time."From April 24, 2025, to July 7, 2025, prosecutors allege Burke bought supplies to conceal evidence of Rivas Hernandez's death. Law enforcement later found her "genetic profile" in Burke's garage, the filing stated.Rivas Hernandez's remains were found in an impounded Tesla in a Los Angeles tow yard on Sept. 8, five months later. Her official cause of death was ruled "two penetrating wounds" to her right abdomen and left chest, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner announced April 22.Contributing: KiMi Robinson and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
