The clothing in which Celeste Rivas was murdered was revealed Thursday as her parents looked on.
Lisa Lahendro, an LAPD criminalist took the stand in a preliminary hearing for the singer D4vd, real name David Burke, who is accused of murdering the teen girl.
Lahendro described photographs shown of Rivas’ clothing that was discovered along with her body — including a Victoria’s Secret thong, leggings, a Forever 21 tube top and leggings. Lahendro described the clothing as “heavily soiled and had numerous insects,” and “a very strong smell to them, and they were in poor condition.”
She also said the clothing was very wet. Detectives later allegedly discovered black fabric in a trash bag in Burke’s garage that compared to Rivas’ clothing.
The preliminary hearing kicked off on Tuesday with the court shown gruesome images of Rivas’ decapitated and mutilated corpse as her family looked in horror.
Several photos showed the young girl’s dismembered body, including arms and legs in a trash bag, a head and torso in a body bag, and severed hands with missing fingers.
“Trunk was open and there was a partially unzipped body bag with torso and head,” an LAPD homicide detective told the court. “Missing extremities at the time.”
Over the hearing’s first two days, the court has heard dramatic testimony from law enforcement and forensic experts.
LAPD Criminalist Chelsea Murillo testified Wednesday that she was assigned to inspect the Tesla where Rivas’ body was found. Although the body had already been removed, she said a strong order resembling a decomposing corpse emanated from the vehicle.
Murillo testified that she found “at least 11” air fresheners in the car, with some in the center console and trunk.
Another LAPD criminalist, Lauren Wallace, was assigned to inspect D4vd’s Hollywood Hills mansion for evidence of blood on September 17, 2025, after the singer’s arrest.
She tested several items in Burke’s garage, finding evidence of blood on brick floors under mats in the garage that could have leaked through.
Also on Wednesday, it was revealed that D4vd continued to profit off of his record deal in the months after allegedly killing Rivas in April 2025.
Lewis Poimiroo, senior vice president of finance for Interscope Records, testified that D4vd earned $2.77 million that year.
The singer’s finances, specifically related to his music deal with Interscope, were laid out in the courtroom. D4vd made at least 2.7 million the year he allegedly killed Rivas according to testimony.
Burke has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances — lying in wait, murder of a witness to an investigation and murder for financial gain.
Additionally, he was also charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and for mutilating the human remains of a body.
According to legal documents obtained by The California Post, D4vd ordered an Uber to deliver Rivas from her family home in Lake Elsinore to his Hollywood Hills home on the night of April 23, 2025.
He then stabbed her and stood by while she bled to death, prosecutors said.
The preliminary hearing is expected to last from three to five days and will determine whether Burke will face a trial possible next year.
