WARNING: This article contains distressing content. Readers are advised to proceed with caution.
The Los Angeles County courtroom saw an unprecedented display of graphic crime‑scene photographs on opening day of the preliminary hearing in the murder case of 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors accused 21‑year‑old musician known as D4vd of murdering and dismembering the teenage girl.
The evidence, long described only in court filings, showed a dismembered torso, head and limbs found in a Tesla belonging to D4vd’s partner. Deputies testified that the victim’s body had decomposed so severely the face could not be identified. Prosecutor Beth Silverman presented the images, repeatedly checking with Celeste’s parents before flipping each slide to mitigate the emotional impact.
The family’s lawyer, Patrick Steinfeld, described the parents as “horrified” and urged them to leave the courtroom, but they chose to stay and support their daughter during the shocking revelation.
Detailed testimony also linked D4vd to e‑commerce purchases of chainsaws, body bags and an inflatable pool delivered to an address using an alias. Investigators say these items were used to dismember and conceal the body.
Prosecutors brought forward tattoo evidence: a red ink “Celeste” tattoo on D4vd’s left ring finger matched a similar design on the victim’s right hand. Parallel “Shhh…” tattoos appeared on both parties’ right index fingers. The prosecution’s narrative asserts that A 12‑year‑old girl threatened exposure of the relationship, leading to the murder to protect the singer’s career.
The courtroom itself was packed beyond capacity—journalists, TikTok creators, YouTubers and mainlanders were drawn by the story’s shock value. The judge sat above the witnesses, while the accused appeared in orange jail attire, shackled to a chair even after handcuffs were removed.
The preliminary hearing is expected to prolong over several days, with prosecutors preparing additional witnesses and evidence to ensure a solid basis for a jury trial.
