D4vd Preliminary Hearing: Prosecutors Present Gruesome Evidence in Teen’s Murder Case

On July 21, a Los Angeles courtroom hosted the first day of a multi-day preliminary hearing for David Anthony Burke, the 21-year-old singer known as D4vd. Prosecutors displayed graphic photographs of the decomposed remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, discovered in the front trunk of Burke’s black Tesla on September 8 2025. The images showed a limbless torso in a black bag, dismembered limbs in a second bag, and a left hand missing the ring and pinky fingers; a tattoo reading “Shhh…” was visible on the victim’s right index finger.

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Detective Joshua Byers testified that the remains were so decomposed that facial features could not be identified, confirming the prosecutor’s description of “quite a bit of decomposition” and “skin slippage.” The defense, led by attorney Blair Berk, maintained that Burke has not been shown to cause the teen’s death.

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Prosecutors allege Burke first contacted Rivas online in January 2022 when she was 11, began a sexual relationship in November 2023 (when she was 13 and he was 18), and continued the abuse through 2024. Text messages recovered by investigators show Rivas discussing sex, pregnancy, and jealousy over Burke’s relationships with other women.

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The prosecution’s brief claims Burke purchased chainsaws, an inflatable pool, a mop-and-bucket system, a “burn cage,” and a “fireproof mat” in May-July 2025, then used the pool to dismember Rivas in the garage of his Hollywood Hills rental home before storing the body in his Tesla.

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• April 23 2025 – Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Rivas to death.

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• April 16 2025 – Burke arrested and charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

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• September 8 2025 – Rivas’s remains found in the Tesla’s front trunk; the vehicle was towed after a foul odor was reported.

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• May 1 2025 – Two chainsaws purchased on Amazon under an alias.

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• July 29 2025 – License-plate readers record the Tesla repeatedly parked at Burke’s rental home; the vehicle’s iPhone disconnects at 2:18 p.m.

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• Prosecutors list seven felony counts, including special-circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait.

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• Former financial manager Benjamin Greger estimates Burke’s gross revenue at $10 million-$11.5 million.

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• If convicted, Burke faces life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty; prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will seek capital punishment.

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Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman questioned Byers about the condition of the remains, receiving the response that decomposition prevented facial identification.

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Judge Olmedo partially granted Burke’s request to remove handcuffs, allowing his hands free use while keeping a waist-shackle attached to his chair.

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Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said a decision on seeking the death penalty will be made after the preliminary hearing.

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• “We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez, nor was he the cause of her death.” — Blair Berk

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• “Do you remember testifying that the reason you told her to do that was to protect the estate from any civil suit, so the victim’s family wouldn’t be able to obtain those?” — Beth Silverman

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