Celeste Rivas’ parents watched in horror at the murder trial of their daughter’s accused killer D4vd as horrific images of her decapitated and mutilated corpse were displayed in a court.
The 14-year-old’s family ignored their attorney’s request to look away as the shocking images were displayed in a Los Angeles courtroom during the first day of the singer’s trial on Tuesday.
The devastated couple were later spotted crying in the hall of the courthouse after viewing their daughter’s severed limbs, head, torso and fingers that were allegedly found in the trunk of D4vd’s Tesla.
Victim Celeste Rivas was just 14 years old at the time of her death. GoFundMe
An LAPD homicide detective provided disturbing details while testifying about finding Rivas’ body.
“There were maggots, there were flies,” recalled Detective Joshua Byers. “I don’t know how to describe the other liquid matter.”
Several photos showed the young girl’s dismembered body, including arms and legs in a trash bag, a head and torso in a body bag, and severed hands with missing fingers.
“Trunk was open and there was a partially unzipped body bag with torso and head,” Byers said. “Missing extremities at the time.”
Rivas’ parents sat only feet from D4vd as the evidence was displayed.
D4vd’s murder trial was moved multiple times because of the substantial amount of new evidence uncovered by prosecutors — including lab reports, police reports, photographs, numerous videos, arrest reports and forensic evidence.
D4vd — real name David Burke — was arrested in dramatic fashion on April 16 when he was removed from his home in handcuffs, surrounded by LAPD officers.
Video footage obtained by The California Post showed the singer with his hands behind his back as he was led by law enforcement down a residential street in the Hollywood Hills.
A courtroom sketch shows David Anthony Burke, who is known as D4vd, in court Tuesday. AP Photo/Bill Robles
Following a monthslong investigation, D4vd was taken into custody on April 16. © California Post
Celeste Rivas’ parents, left, arrive at court Tuesday. TMZ/BACKGRID
The singer was also charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances — lying in wait, murder of a witness to an investigation and murder for financial gain
He was also charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and for mutilating the human remains of a body.
According to legal documents obtained by The California Post, D4vd ordered an Uber to deliver Rivas from her family home in Lake Elsinore to his Hollywood Hills home on the night of April 23, 2025.
He then stabbed her and stood by while she bled to death, prosecutors claim.
Burke allegedly ordered a shovel from Home Depot the following day and had it delivered to his home by Postmates. About a week later, he ordered two chainsaws from Amazon that were delivered to his home, and on May 5, he allegedly ordered a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags and a blue inflatable pool, according to the documents.
Burke allegedly placed Rivas’ body into the blue inflatable pool to prevent her blood from making a mess on his garage floor and used the chainsaw and possibly other tools to cut off her limbs, according to the documents.
The singer faces the death penalty. He’s pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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