Judge Orders D4vd Murder Trial to Proceed in Killing and Dismemberment of 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez

After five days of testimony, a judge ordered singer D4vd to stand trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas.

A judge has ruled that murder charges against singer D4vd will proceed to trial, following a five-day preliminary hearing centered on the killing and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The Los Angeles judge found sufficient evidence to move the case forward, ordering the trial to begin within 90 days, with D4vd scheduled to return to court for further proceedings. A central focus of the preliminary hearing was a set of text messages exchanged between D4vd and Celeste Rivas in which she allegedly threatened to kill him — sent just one day before prosecutors say he killed her. Defense attorneys introduced the texts as part of their legal strategy. D4vd's defense has raised at least two potential arguments for trial: that he acted in self-defense, or that Celeste died by suicide. Celeste's family, represented by attorney Patrick Steinfeld, publicly condemned the defense's approach, saying it amounts to blaming a 14-year-old girl for her own death.

Why it matters

The case has drawn significant public attention given D4vd's profile as a recording artist and the victim's age. The trial will test contested legal questions around self-defense claims and the admissibility of the victim's prior communications.

What's next

D4vd is due back in court for a hearing ahead of the trial, which the judge ordered must begin within 90 days.

Key facts

• A judge ordered D4vd's murder case to proceed to trial after a five-day preliminary hearing
• The victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was 14 years old at the time of her death
• Text messages introduced in court show Celeste threatened to kill D4vd one day before prosecutors say he killed her
• The trial must begin within 90 days per the judge's order
• Defense is considering a self-defense argument or a claim that Celeste died by suicide
• Celeste's family, represented by attorney Patrick Steinfeld, publicly condemned the defense's approach as victim-blaming

Bias & framing notes

All five sources originate from TMZ and Just Jared — entertainment outlets with a tabloid orientation — and there is no independent corroboration from mainstream news or legal sources. TMZ's multiple articles on the same story largely recycle the same details, functioning more as updates to a single report than independent verification. Coverage is heavily framed around the dramatic elements of the texts and the family's emotional response, with relatively brief treatment of the defense's legal reasoning. The Just Jared piece provides minimal additional detail beyond what TMZ reported.

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