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D4vd Charged with Killing 14-Year-Old, Body Discovered in Tesla

4/25/2026

41 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

David Burke (D4vd) was arrested and charged with murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Prosecutors allege he killed her on April 23, 2025.
Her body was discovered in his Tesla in September 2025.
The autopsy found penetrating injuries to her right abdomen and left chest.
Burke pleaded not guilty, stays in custody without bail, and faces a May 1 hearing that could result in life without parole or the death penalty.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial, overseen by Judge Lance Ito and prosecuted by Marcia Clark, presented 108 DNA exhibits and sparked a media frenzy that exposed LAPD misconduct. Its racial backlash helped drive California’s 1996 Proposition 209, ending affirmative-action programs, and spurred reforms such as the state’s DNA crime lab—factors shaping today’s heightened scrutiny of capital-punishment prosecutions.

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Story summary

David Burke (D4vd) was arrested and charged with murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Prosecutors allege he killed her on April 23, 2025.
Her body was discovered in his Tesla in September 2025.
The autopsy found penetrating injuries to her right abdomen and left chest.
Burke pleaded not guilty, stays in custody without bail, and faces a May 1 hearing that could result in life without parole or the death penalty.

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