The preliminary hearing for singer D4vd is offering the clearest look yet at prosecutors’ case in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. As investigators and forensic experts testify, prosecutors are laying out the evidence they say links the artist to the crime, while the defense continues to challenge those claims.
Because this is a preliminary hearing–not a trial–the court has not determined guilt or innocence. Still, here’s what we know so far.
How Does D4vd Look in Court?
While media and news presence was limited, several reporters who attended the hearing described D4vd as being focused on the testimony, frequently resting his face against his hand as he watched witnesses and viewed crime-scene images, according to Reuters.
Early in the investigation, police said the singer was cooperative. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He’s being held without bail. During this week’s trial, Law&Crime Network described the singer as looking “bored” at times.
Defense Pushes Back
It’s important to note D4vd’s attorneys challenged key portions of the prosecution’s forensic case, questioning the investigation and arguing that the evidence does not prove D4vd committed the crimes.
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue before the judge decides whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
DNA Evidence Allegedly Links Celeste to D4vd’s Garage
One of the most shocking presentations came from LAPD criminalists who testified that blood recovered from multiple items inside D4vd’s Hollywood Hills garage–including a tarp, a rowing machine and a Tesla charging plug–matched Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s DNA, Rolling Stone reported.
RELATED: New Details on How D4vd Allegedly Killed Celeste Rivas
Prosecutors argue the evidence supports their theory that she was killed and dismembered at the home. We previously told you DNA evidence was collected from the alleged crime scene back in 2025.
LAPD criminalist Samantha Tosch testified that DNA collected from a trash bag recovered during the search of the home contained a mixture from four individuals. According to her testimony reviewed by Rolling Stone, at least two of those contributors were male, and D4vd could not be excluded as one of the people whose DNA was present in the sample.
The Alleged Motive
According to prosecutors, D4vd had an illegal sexual relationship with Celeste that began when she was 13 and allegedly killed her after she threatened to reveal it. They argued he feared the relationship becoming public would destroy his rising music career.
D4vd has pleaded not guilty, and the defense disputes those allegations.
Medical Examiner Testifies
The medical examiner testified that Celeste suffered two fatal sharp-force injuries that penetrated her chest and abdomen, according to ABC 7 News. Because her body was significantly decomposed when it was recovered, investigators told the court they were unable to determine an exact time of death or complete certain forensic analyses.
“Knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened, very soon after her arrival at his home, defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out,” according to the filing against D4vd, obtained by ABC 7 News. “At no time did he call law enforcement or 911 or take her to an emergency room to save her life. Despite knowing she was dead and her family was trying to find her, the evidence will show the defendant lied and claimed he didn’t know where she was.”
Inside D4vd’s Tesla
Testimony revealed that investigators recovered Celeste’s remains from D4vd’s Tesla after the vehicle was impounded. Jurors also heard graphic testimony about the condition of the body, including evidence presented by prosecutors regarding the state of decomposition and other physical evidence recovered during the investigation, according to Reuters.
Rivas’ family has been present in court throughout the preliminary trial, according to Fox 11 News.
