Content warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of an alleged murder.
A pivotal preliminary hearing is set to commence on July 21st, where a judge will meticulously examine the evidence presented by prosecutors to determine if there is sufficient probable cause to advance the murder case against musician D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, to a full trial. The proceedings, anticipated to span three days in Los Angeles Superior Court, follow the singer’s arrest three months prior. Burke, aged 21, faces grave charges including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her decomposed and dismembered body was discovered in his vehicle last September, a discovery that has sent shockwaves through the music industry and beyond.
The purpose of this preliminary hearing is not to ascertain guilt or innocence, but rather to assess the strength of the prosecution’s case. The judge will weigh the evidence to decide if a rational jury could potentially convict Burke based on the allegations. D4vd has maintained his plea of not guilty, and his legal defense team, comprised of Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, has vehemently denied the charges, asserting his innocence. In an April statement to E! News, following his arrest and subsequent charging, his attorneys declared, "The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence."
Prosecution’s Roadmap of Evidence
In April, prosecutors submitted a comprehensive brief intended to serve as a "roadmap of evidence" they intend to present during the preliminary hearing. This document, which was made public by Courthouse News Service, outlines the prosecution’s narrative of the relationship between D4vd and Rivas Hernandez. According to the brief, their association began in January 2022, when Burke was 18 and Rivas Hernandez was 13. Their relationship reportedly evolved into a sexual one in November 2023, a critical detail given the age of the victim at the time. Rivas Hernandez was officially reported missing in April 2024.
The prosecution’s brief details a period of intense interaction throughout 2024, during which Rivas Hernandez spent considerable time with Burke. This included extended stays at his Hollywood Hills residence during summer weekends and travel with him to various locations, including Las Vegas, London, and Texas, to meet his family. Text message exchanges between the victim and the defendant, as detailed in the brief, allegedly contain references to sexual activity, pregnancy, abortion, and the use of emergency contraception. Furthermore, the prosecution claims that explicit photographs exist, documenting and corroborating their sexual relationship. The brief also notes that the pair reportedly broke up in November 2024, but continued to communicate, with texts suggesting ongoing sexual relations.
Allegations of a Fatal Argument and Subsequent Cover-Up
The prosecution’s timeline pinpoints April 22, 2025, as the date of a significant argument between Burke and Rivas Hernandez, reportedly detailed in their text messages. The brief states that these messages reveal the victim’s jealousy concerning Burke’s relationships with other women, particularly as he had allegedly led her to believe they had a future together. This reportedly led to extreme distress for Rivas Hernandez, who then threatened to disclose damaging information about their relationship, aiming to end his career and "destroy his life."
The following day, April 23, 2025, is cited as the probable date of Rivas Hernandez’s death. According to the brief, Burke allegedly arranged for an Uber to transport Rivas Hernandez from her home in Lake Elsinore to his Hollywood Hills residence. Prosecutors contend that Burke, "knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened," proceeded to stab her multiple times shortly after her arrival at his home, leaving her to bleed out.
Following the alleged murder, the prosecution claims Burke embarked on a calculated effort to dispose of the victim’s body and destroy evidence. He is accused of driving to Santa Barbara County to further his efforts. Despite texting Rivas Hernandez throughout the night of April 23rd and into the morning of April 24th, inquiring about her whereabouts, prosecutors assert these messages were part of a "premeditated plan to cover up the murder," as she was already deceased.
Disturbing Details of Dismemberment and Disposal
The brief further alleges that Burke took increasingly disturbing measures to conceal the crime. On April 24, 2025, he purportedly used a fake name to order a shovel. This was followed by orders for two chainsaws on May 1, 2025, along with a "body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, and a blue inflatable pool." Prosecutors also claim he made additional trips to Santa Barbara County later in May and ordered a "burn cage" on July 7, 2025, ostensibly to "incinerate evidence."
The prosecution’s narrative describes horrifying actions taken to dismember and discard Rivas Hernandez’s body. The brief alleges that Burke placed her body into the blue inflatable pool to contain the blood before using a chainsaw and other tools to sever her limbs. In a particularly chilling detail, prosecutors allege that Burke "amputated her left ring and pinky fingers because her ring finger contained a tattoo of his name," noting that these fingers have not been recovered. The brief continues, stating that Burke then placed her head and torso into the purchased cadaver bag, and her limbs into a separate garbage bag, which he then placed in the front trunk of his Tesla, with the cadaver bag laid on top. The body, according to the allegations, remained in the vehicle to decompose for several weeks, or possibly months.
Discovery of the Victim’s Remains
Surveillance footage reportedly shows D4vd was the last person to drive his vehicle on July 29, 2025, before parking it on a street near his home. He then departed for his tour, which commenced in Del Mar on August 5th. The vehicle was towed in early September. On September 8th, the tow yard manager contacted the Los Angeles Police Department after detecting a "strong smell of decay and presence of flies coming from the vehicle." Responding detectives subsequently discovered a dismembered body inside the Tesla. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Department identified the remains on September 16th as those of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. In a death investigation summary released in December, the medical examiner officially ruled her cause of death as "multiple penetrating injuries" and the manner of death as homicide.
Following the discovery, police executed a search warrant at D4vd’s residence on September 17th, and the remainder of his U.S. tour dates were canceled around this time. David Anthony Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026, and formally charged four days later.
Background of the Artist and the Victim
David Anthony Burke, professionally known as D4vd, was born in Queens, New York, and later moved to Houston, Texas, at the age of 13. His initial foray into online content creation began as a streamer playing games like Fortnite, with aspirations of viral success on YouTube. Challenges with copyright infringement regarding music used in his videos led him to explore music creation in 2021. He reportedly downloaded an app on his phone and began producing music, which subsequently gained traction on platforms like TikTok, propelling his career. He released his debut album, Withered, in April 2025.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was reported missing on April 5, 2024. At the time of her disappearance, she was 13 years old. Officials believe she died at the age of 14. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report, obtained by E! News, indicated her cause of death was "multiple penetrating injuries" to her chest and abdomen, including an injury to her liver. While her death was officially pronounced on September 8, 2025—the day her body was discovered—officials noted that her body had been in the car for an extended period and was "severely decomposed."
Legal Proceedings and Defense Stance
The upcoming preliminary hearing is a crucial juncture in the legal process. It will allow the prosecution to present its evidence, including forensic findings, digital communications, and witness testimonies, to establish probable cause. D4vd’s defense team has maintained a strong stance, asserting his innocence and vowing to challenge the prosecution’s narrative. The allegations of continuous sexual abuse of a minor, coupled with the brutal nature of the alleged murder and dismemberment, present a complex and deeply disturbing case for the Los Angeles legal system.
The charges against D4vd include one count of murder, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and one count of unlawful mutilation of human remains. The criminal complaint also includes special circumstance allegations: murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. Additionally, there is a special allegation that he "personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime."
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman has publicly stated, "Celeste was just a child, under 14 years old, when David Burke allegedly engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations with her. But Burke’s actions did not allegedly stop there. When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car. There the dismembered body sat for over four months decomposing until it was found at a tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025. This horrific and gruesome murder committed by the charged sexual predator is shocking and appalling. To Celeste’s loved ones, we will get the justice you seek and deserve."
Broader Implications and Public Reaction
The case has drawn significant public attention due to D4vd’s rising profile in the music industry and the heinous nature of the alleged crimes. The discovery of a dismembered body in his vehicle has led to the cancellation of his tour dates and a stark pause in his burgeoning career. The legal proceedings will undoubtedly be closely watched, with implications extending beyond the courtroom, touching upon issues of celebrity accountability, the protection of minors, and the impact of dark secrets concealed beneath a public persona. The preliminary hearing will serve as the critical first step in determining whether these deeply disturbing allegations will be put before a jury for a full trial.
