Singer D4vd Scheduled for Court Appearance Linked to Teen’s Death
Singer D4vd Pleads Not Guilty in High-Profile Murder Case
Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to charges of capital murder in the case surrounding the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The singer is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday for a status conference.
According to prosecutors, Burke’s dismembered body was discovered in the trunk of his Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard on September 8, 2025. Authorities indicated that her remains were found in a decomposed state, with the head and torso contained in one bag and severed limbs in another.
Burke, 21, faces multiple charges, including special circumstances of lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and killing a witness in a criminal investigation. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office is expected to announce shortly whether it will pursue the death penalty.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman explained that the allegation of lying in wait is grounded in Burke’s invitation for Celeste to visit his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, after which she reportedly vanished. The financial motive stems from Burke’s alleged efforts to preserve his music career, which was jeopardized by his sexual relationship with the underage girl, who was deemed a key witness, thus leading to the witness murder charge.
In addition to the murder charge, Burke has also been charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and mutilation of human remains.
Prosecutors allege that Burke planned the dismemberment, citing a court filing that claims he purchased tools, including a shovel and chainsaws, to carry out the act. It is reported that he placed her body in an inflatable pool to avoid blood spillage onto the garage floor before using a chainsaw to remove her limbs.
The filing notes that Burke amputated her fingers to remove a tattoo of his name. Searches of his home yielded multiple biological samples and evidence consistent with dismemberment.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s autopsy report, which has recently been unsealed, concluded that Celeste died from "multiple penetrating injuries" from an object.
The prosecution claims the two began a sexual relationship in November 2023, when Celeste was 13 and Burke was 18. The brief details exchanges between them that allegedly included discussions of pregnancy and contraception, emphasizing the complicated nature of their interactions leading up to her death.
Reports indicate that Celeste’s mother had reported her missing in 2024. The investigation revealed that Burke was the last individual to operate the Tesla before it was towed, with surveillance footage supporting this assertion.
Burke was arrested by Los Angeles police on April 16, 2025. His defense team has maintained his innocence, stating that evidence will show he did not murder Celeste. They emphasized that he has not been formally indicted or charged with a crime as of yet.
As the case unfolds, the implications continue to weigh heavily, not only for those directly involved but also for the broader community as the legal process seeks to address the tragic loss of a young life. A hearing to determine the viability of evidence against Burke is tentatively set for May 26.
