A DNA expert provided testimony in Los Angeles, linking evidence from a Hollywood garage to 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. D4vd, charged with her murder, stands accused of brutal acts, allegedly following threats from the girl to expose their illicit relationship.
DNA samples were collected from various items in the garage including a floor mat and Tesla charger. Samantha Tosch, a Los Angeles police criminalist, identified the DNA as strongly matching Hernandez. She testified on the third day of a preliminary hearing to decide if D4vd should face trial for murder, child sexual abuse, and body mutilation. D4vd denies the charges, and his lawyers plan a robust defense.
“The DNA match was ‘one septillion times more likely’ to be from Celeste than anyone else,” Tosch explained, highlighting the statistical weight.
Prosecutors earlier disclosed a DNA connection, but it was made public through this hearing. Trials hinge on evidence from stained cleaning wipes and a trash bag found in the garage. The bag contained DNA from four people, including D4vd, but not on the wipes where Hernandez’s DNA appeared.
A police criminalist noted that most stains were invisible until a chemical made them glow. Burke’s lawyer, Blair Berk, challenged whether the DNA was from blood, and Tosch admitted she could not confidently confirm it was.
Defense Queries Testing Methods
The defense argued for more DNA testing. They scrutinized why items were not more rigorously tested, such as small chain saws in D4vd’s garage, reportedly used for dismembering. Lauren Wallace of the LAPD noted initial tests showed no blood on the saws, leading to no further DNA tests on the handles.
“It’s not possible to see touch DNA,” Wallace said in court, suggesting other people’s DNA may remain unseen.
D4vd, known for his dark-themed music, remained composed during proceedings while engaged with his legal team. His music persona and song themes, including the widely played “Romantic Homicide,” contrast starkly with his calm courtroom demeanor.
Rivas Hernandez’s family attended the session, remaining stoic through highly technical testimonies. Prosecutors allege D4vd initiated his relationship with Hernandez at 13. They claim jealousy over his other relationships led to her threatening his career, resulting in her stabbing upon arrival at D4vd’s home in April 2025. Her body was found months later in the Tesla’s front trunk.
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