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Singer D4vd Charged in 14-Year-Old’s Tesla Murder

7/24/2026

Summary

Burke Murder Trial

Singer David Burke (D4vd) has been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Her dismembered body was discovered on September 8, 2025, inside the trunk of Burke’s Tesla.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo will decide this week whether probable cause exists for prosecutors' allegation that Burke killed the teen in April 2025 to protect a $19 million deal, a conviction that could carry life without parole or death.

Summary

Mercedes Cries

Mercedes, Celeste’s mother, stayed in the downtown Los Angeles courtroom and broke down in tears when graphic photos were shown.
Prosecutor Beth Silverman repeatedly asked the parents if they wanted to look away before each disturbing image, while supporters comforted Mercedes.
Detective Joshua Byers testified that purchases sent to suspect Burke’s address after the death—chainsaws, body bags and an inflatable pool—suggested tools for dismemberment.

History

Historical Context

After the 1992 Los Angeles riots sparked by the Rodney King beating, the city’s strained race relations set the stage for O.J. Simpson’s criminal trial. Beginning Jan 24 1995, former NFL star O.J. Simpson faced murder charges; the case, overseen by Judge Lance Ito and prosecuted by Marcia Clark, culminated in an Oct 3 not-guilty verdict watched by an estimated 95 million viewers.

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Burke Murder Trial

Singer David Burke (D4vd) has been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Her dismembered body was discovered on September 8, 2025, inside the trunk of Burke’s Tesla.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo will decide this week whether probable cause exists for prosecutors' allegation that Burke killed the teen in April 2025 to protect a $19 million deal, a conviction that could carry life without parole or death.

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