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Celeste Rivas Hernandez Died From Penetrating Wounds: The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the long-sealed autopsy findings on Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl alt-pop artist D4vd was charged with murdering.
The report confirms that her death was determined to be a murder caused by penetrating injuries to her upper body.
Autopsy Findings
Its report, that was been restraining from release for months by an order of a judge, describes two piercing wounds to Rivas Hernandez’s torso that have soft edges, described as having potential sharp force trauma. A cut in her abdomen’s upper part pierced her liver while a second wound in her left chest shattered her ribs. The tube’s top appears to be cut in three different places.
The investigation was hampered by “extensive postmortem alterations,” as the body was dismembered and in a high stage of decay at the time of its discovery in September. It was found in two bags within the trunk of the Tesla located within the Hollywood Hills. The head and torso of the victim were kept in a zippered black body bag, while her legs and arms in an additional trash bag.
The toxicology report found an insignificant amount of alcohol in the liver. However, the report stated that it was most likely a consequence of chemical shifts that occurred after her death but not a factor that contributed to her death.
The Charges Against D4vd
The 21-year old singer who’s legal name is David Burke, was charged on Monday with murder in the first degree as well as lewd and sexually explicit conduct with a child younger than 14 years old and mutilation on the body of a deceased person. He denied guilt to all charges.
Prosecutors say Burke murdered Rivas Hernandez following a threat to openly expose a sexual encounter which allegedly began at the age of 13 years old, claiming that it could damage his burgeoning musical career. The criminal complaint also claims that he killed her using an object sharp and then dismembered her body two weeks afterward.
Burke’s lawyers have denied any involvement in the incident, saying they did not believe he caused Rivas Hernandez’s death, and that Burke’s lawyers have promised to “vigorously protect his innocent.”
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A Family’s Grief and Call for Justice
Parents of Rivas Hernandez, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez they released their first public declaration on Tuesday evening, in which they expressed their gratitude to the police and their local community of Lake Elsinore, California -approximately 70 miles to the southeast from Los Angeles.
“Celeste was a gorgeous, sturdy girl that loved to dance and sing. Every Friday was a movie night, and we had amazing times together,” they said. “We cherish her deeply and she would always tell us she was a lover of us. We miss her deeply. We want just compensation for Celeste.”
The Push for Transparency
The Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey C. Ukpo has been an active advocate for transparency and public accountability within his office’s work since he took over the office about three years ago. Dr. Ukpo expressed his relief that the report would finally be made available to the public.
“After some time I am thankful that the information has been made available, not just to the general public however, and also the bereaved family who are suffering from the grief,” Dr. Ukpo declared. “It is hard to believe that they been waiting for this long to find out the fate of the daughter of their family.”
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Who Is D4vd?
D4vd also known as “David” He rose to prominence after becoming a viral sensation through TikTok in 2022 thanks to his hit song “Romantic Homicide,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
Famous for mixing Indie rock with R&B and pop with a lo-fi sound, his band dropped two albums in the year 2023the Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals. Withered, his first full-length album Withered It was released one year ago two days following the date the prosecutors believed Rivas Hernandez was murdered.
