DNA Evidence Links D4vd to Teen’s Death in Preliminary Hearing

A DNA expert testified in court that evidence collected from blood stains in the garage of singer D4vd’s Hollywood home strongly links him to the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege that D4vd killed Hernandez after she threatened to disclose their sexual relationship, potentially damaging his career.

The samples were taken by police technicians from various items in the garage, including a rubber floor mat, a rowing machine, and a Tesla charger. Samantha Tosch, a criminalist with the Los Angeles police, confirmed that the DNA matched Rivas Hernandez. The court proceedings are part of a preliminary hearing to determine if D4vd should stand trial for murder, child sexual abuse, and mutilating a body. D4vd has pleaded not guilty, and his defense team plans a rigorous defense.

Tosch explained that the likelihood of the DNA originating from anyone other than Celeste was astronomically low. Similar evidence had been mentioned in earlier court filings, but the details had not been publicly disclosed until now. The DNA testing includes samples from a trash bag found in the garage and stained cleaning wipes. Tosch stated that the bag had DNA from four individuals, including Burke, but the wipes only contained Rivas Hernandez’s DNA.

“It’s possible that they did not come from blood?” defense attorney Blair Berk asked. “I cannot with any certainty say that they came from blood,” Tosch replied.

Another police expert confirmed that chemical tests were needed to reveal the garage stains, which were mostly invisible to the naked eye. The court displayed a photograph showing the rubber mat illuminated in blue due to these tests. Under defense questioning, Tosch acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the source and age of the DNA, as well as the potential for DNA to transfer between individuals.

Burke’s legal team highlighted gaps in the police’s DNA analysis, such as the lack of further testing on items found in D4vd’s home and car. They questioned why two small chain saws found in the garage, reportedly used to dismember the body, weren’t fully tested. Lauren Wallace, another criminalist, reported that initial tests did not detect blood on these saws, thus handles were not swabbed for DNA.

Blair Berk, D4vd’s attorney, pointed out, “If an item has somebody else’s DNA on it, you wouldn’t be able to see that at the time.” To which Wallace agreed but reiterated the negative results for blood on the blades.

In court, D4vd was dressed in orange prison attire, calm and attentive during the testimony. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, he showed no visible emotion while in the courtroom. During recess, he interacted and smiled with his attorneys.

Rivas Hernandez’s parents attended the session, seated at the forefront, and they maintained their composure during the technically detailed testimonies.

Prosecutors are working to establish that D4vd began a relationship with the adolescent when she was 13 while he was 18. They argued that jealousy and threats from Hernandez prompted the tragic event. They assert that the murder took place when she arrived at his home on April 23, 2025, and that her body was concealed in D4vd’s Tesla for months before being discovered.