Full Breakdown
Singer D4vd Faces Preliminary Hearing Over Murder and Dismemberment of Teen
7/21/2026, 11:18:47 PM
The Preliminary Hearing and Charges
A Los Angeles Superior Court hearing began on July 21 to determine probable cause for sending singer-songwriter David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, to trial. Judge Charlaine Olmedo will hear the prosecution’s case over several days. Burke, 21, is charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail. Prosecutors allege the 14-year-old victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was last seen alive on April 23 2025 after an Uber drop-off at Burke’s Hollywood Hills rental. Her dismembered remains were discovered in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla on September 8 2025.
Background & Context
Court filings say Burke first met Hernandez when she was 11 and that a sexual relationship began in November 2023, when he was 18 and she was 13. Prosecutors claim Hernandez threatened to expose the relationship, prompting a heated argument on April 22 2025. The next night she was taken to Burke’s home, stabbed, and left to bleed out. The memo details efforts to conceal the crime: purchases of a shovel (April 24), two chainsaws and a blue inflatable pool (early May), and a burn cage (July 7). The body was allegedly placed in the pool, dismembered with the chainsaws, and the remains packed into bags left in the Tesla’s trunk.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Celeste Rivas Hernandez – 14
- Defendant: David Anthony Burke – 21
- Last seen alive: April 23 2025 (Uber)
- Remains found: September 8 2025 (Tesla trunk)
- Items prosecutors say Burke purchased: shovel, two chainsaws, body bags, heavy-duty laundry bags, inflatable pool, burn cage
- Album “Withered” released April 25 2025
Official Statements & Responses
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. and Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman indicated they will present text messages, photographs, cellphone records, surveillance video and DNA evidence linking the victim’s blood to Burke’s garage.
Criticism & Opposition
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani argued the defense’s push for an early hearing may be a media strategy, saying, “The defense thought the D.A. wasn’t ready, but I think Silverman is ready.” Defense attorney Mark Geragos noted the possibility of a “Robert Durst-style defense,” while acknowledging the gruesome nature of the alleged dismemberment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the description of the fatal injuries—some cite “multiple penetrating wounds,” others “two stab wounds.” Both descriptions come from prosecution autopsy reports, but wording varies across outlets. Additionally, while most reports agree the relationship began when Hernandez was 13, a few mention sexual contact starting at 13 in November 2023, creating a minor chronological ambiguity.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The defense thought the D.A. wasn’t ready, but I think Silverman is ready,” — Neama Rahmani
- “NOW PLAYING “We will evaluate the death penalty as we would in any eligible case.” — Nathan J. Hochman, county district attorney
What’s Next
After the multi-day preliminary hearing, Judge Olmedo will rule on probable cause. If she finds sufficient evidence, the case will move toward a full criminal trial, where the district attorney will decide whether to seek the death penalty. The defense is prepared to challenge forensic and digital evidence, and both sides indicated readiness to proceed as of July 7 2026.
