A close friend of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has come forward with claims that the 14-year-old told her she was pregnant in early 2025, months before her death.
In a livestream clip that resurfaced and spread widely after singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as d4vd, was arrested in April 2026, the young woman described visiting Celeste at her house. She recalled Celeste talking about possibly running away to a person named David, whom the friend initially thought was someone from school rather than the musician. Celeste then allegedly confided that she was pregnant. The friend said she felt disappointed yet recognized it was not her place to intervene directly. She continued texting Celeste daily after the teen ran away but received no replies. Months later, Celeste’s parents reached out asking if she knew about the pregnancy or the runaway situation. The friend insisted she had not shared those details with the parents at the time.
The friend placed the conversation around January 2025 and repeatedly stressed that she and Celeste were close. She expressed belief in Celeste’s honesty during the exchange. This personal account adds to existing case elements, including reported text messages and Discord conversations between Celeste and Burke that referenced sex, pregnancy possibilities, and abortion when she was 13 and he was 18. Burke now faces charges including first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains. Celeste’s dismembered remains were discovered in September 2025 inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to him.
Questions remain about the timing of the friend’s public statements. The young woman did not come forward with this information in the months between Celeste’s disappearance and the discovery of her remains, nor in the period after the body was found but before Burke’s arrest. She has only spoken out now, in a clip that gained traction following the high-profile arrest and subsequent updates in the case. Critics online have questioned why such details emerged only after law enforcement action, while supporters suggest fear of involvement or uncertainty kept associates quiet until charges brought more attention and perceived safety in speaking.
Prosecutors allege Burke arranged transportation for Celeste from Lake Elsinore to his Hollywood Hills area residence around April 23, 2025. They claim he killed her after she threatened to expose their relationship, which they say could harm his rising music career. Evidence includes multiple penetrating injuries and signs of postmortem dismemberment. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and his defense maintains he is not responsible for her death. For more on the charges and timeline, refer to public case summaries and Los Angeles County court records.
An initial death certificate from September 2025 indicated Celeste had not been pregnant in the prior year. It was amended on April 22, 2026, shortly after Burke’s arrest, changing the pregnancy status to “unknown.” This shift, combined with the friend’s claims and alleged messages, has intensified public discussion. Official forensic findings have not confirmed an active pregnancy at the time of death, and authorities continue to examine all evidence as the case heads toward further hearings.
Celeste had been reported missing multiple times before. Her interactions with Burke reportedly began online through gaming platforms and Discord years earlier. The friend’s account, shared long after the events, underscores the isolation that vulnerable minors can experience even when they have peer connections. It also prompts reflection on how digital relationships between adults and children can remain hidden from families and friends until tragedy forces everything into the open. The contrast between Burke’s public success with songs like “Romantic Homicide” and the serious allegations against him continues to shock many observers.
The case draws ongoing scrutiny as more details surface through court proceedings. For Celeste’s family and those who knew her, each new revelation deepens an already immense loss. Legal processes will ultimately determine accountability, yet the story of a 14-year-old caught in these circumstances stands as the central human tragedy. Similar high-profile cases involving musicians and alleged violence have previously drawn national attention, such as ongoing RICO-related probes in the hip-hop world.
Additional context on the investigation is available via official Los Angeles news outlets covering court updates and law enforcement releases.
