Singer D4vd has been charged with murder in connection with the teenager's death
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NEED TO KNOW
- Celeste Rivas Hernandez suffered severe penetrating injuries to her torso, according to a coroner’s report obtained by PEOPLE
- Her body was found in several bags in an impounded Tesla belonging to singer D4vd
- D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, has been charged with murder, sexual abuse of a minor and mutilation of human remains
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl found dead in the trunk of a car registered to singer D4vd in September 2025, suffered her most severe injuries in her torso, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
An autopsy determined the teen died from "multiple penetrating injuries" and ruled her death a homicide, officials said in a report obtained by PEOPLE on Wednesday, April 22.
The findings identified two penetrating wounds to the torso — one on the right side of the abdomen that damaged the liver, and another on the upper left chest that passed between two ribs and fractured adjacent ribs.
The report also noted that toxicology testing of liver tissue detected a “low level of ethanol,” which investigators said may be due to “postmortem changes or ingestion” and does not appear to have contributed to the cause of death.
Related: Toxicology Report Reveals New Details About Celeste Rivas Hernandez's Final Hours
Rivas also suffered “bilateral dismemberment of upper and lower extremities and multiple additional skin defects," per the report.
The report further states she had alcohol in her system and that drugs were either not detected or "inconclusive due to interfering substance(s)" after multiple toxicology screens.
Prosecutors previously said Rivas' dismembered remains were found in two separate bags inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, after police received reports of a foul odor coming from the car at a tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025, one day shy of Rivas' 15th birthday.
In the medical examiner's report, investigators clarified that one bag had her torso and head while the other had her arms and legs. Her left ring and pinky fingers also appeared to be mutilated, the report states. She was wearing a tube top, underwear, leggings and socks.
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The report also noted that Rivas had a tattoo on her right index finger that says "Shhh…" Burke was seen with the same tattoo on his right index finger in a Sept. 2024 photo.
Burke has been charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail ahead of his trial.
He is due back in court on Thursday, April 23 for a preliminary hearing — exactly one year after Rivas is alleged to have been killed.
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