US singer D4vd has been accused of having a significant amount of images depicting child sex abuse on his phone and iCloud account when he was arrested over the death of a 14-year-old girl found in his car, prosecutors say.
The discovery was made through search warrants in the case as police investigated how Celeste Rivas Hernandez died and ended up in the singer's Tesla, prosecutors said in court on Thursday.
Prosecutors allege D4vd repeatedly sexually abused the teen before killing and dismembering her body, which they say he did to protect his lucrative music career.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the case.
His attorneys have maintained they will vigorously defend David's innocence and said they believe the evidence will show that David did not kill Celeste. They also highlighted that he currently faces no criminal charges related to the allegations of possessing material depicting child sex abuse.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced the teen's cause of death and released her autopsy report, which revealed that Rivas Hernandez died from multiple penetrating injuries caused by an undisclosed object. Her body had been dismembered and heavily decomposed by the time it was found.
Rivas Hernandez's family has called for justice, describing the love they had for her and their yearning for closure. Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste, her parents said in a statement.
In a case that has shocked many, the implications of the allegations against D4vd continue to unfold, with court hearings scheduled in the coming weeks.
