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Producer D4vd Charged with Murder of 14-Year-Old

4/24/2026

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Summary

Burke Charged Murder

U.S. prosecutors charged David Anthony Burke (D4vd) with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
District Attorney Beth Silverman presented child-pornography from Burke’s iPhone, a wiretap and 40 TB of data.
The autopsy report listed multiple penetrating stab injuries and confirmed post-mortem dismemberment.
Burke faces lying-in-wait, murder-for-financial-gain and witness-killing charges carrying death or life without parole, remains held without bail after his April 16, 2026 arrest, and faces a postponed hearing for May 1.

Summary

McDonnell Demands Justice

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the investigation seeks “justice” and warned delays could lose evidence.
Celeste was last seen April 23 2025 and her body was found September 8 2025, the day after her 15th birthday.
D4dv’s San Francisco and Los Angeles shows were cancelled.
His September 9 Minneapolis concert became his last performance.
Attorney Patrick Steinfeld, was moved to Twin Towers Correctional Facility and placed in segregation, thanked LAPD and DA’s office urging justice for Celeste.

Summary

Defense Requests Delay

A “clean” computer will review child-pornography in 40 terabytes seized from Burke’s devices.
Only 30 percent of the files had been uploaded after five weeks.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman reported one terabyte downloaded from an eight-terabyte iCloud account with 20-30 terabytes pending.
The data volume slowed discovery, prompting defense counsel to request postponing the preliminary hearing and leading defense attorney Blair Berk to say no discovery is possible until digitization.

Summary

Burke Album Release

Platforms removed D4vd’s collaborations with Laufey, Damiano David and Kali Uchis after his murder charges.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s parents thanked Department and Lake Elsinore community for support.
David Anthony Burke built a following, gained TikTok virality, and released Withered in April 2025.
He said the “4” aids SEO and denotes four cinematic universes.
The album dropped when Celeste was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, prompting parallels with violent music videos.

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Burke Charged Murder

U.S. prosecutors charged David Anthony Burke (D4vd) with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
District Attorney Beth Silverman presented child-pornography from Burke’s iPhone, a wiretap and 40 TB of data.
The autopsy report listed multiple penetrating stab injuries and confirmed post-mortem dismemberment.
Burke faces lying-in-wait, murder-for-financial-gain and witness-killing charges carrying death or life without parole, remains held without bail after his April 16, 2026 arrest, and faces a postponed hearing for May 1.

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