Full Breakdown
D4vd Faces Preliminary Hearing Over Murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
7/24/2026, 11:56:09 PM
Core Event: Probable-cause hearing on murder, sexual-abuse and mutilation charges
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo is hearing testimony to decide whether singer David Anthony Burke—known professionally as D4vd—should stand trial for the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed the teenager on April 23, 2025, dismembered her in his Hollywood Hills garage, and concealed the remains in the front trunk of his Tesla, which was later towed from the area. The hearing, now in its fourth day, includes forensic, DNA and motive evidence.
Background & Context
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a runaway from Lake Elsinore, was reported missing in April 2024. Her decomposed body was discovered in two black bags inside the Tesla’s front trunk. Prosecutors say the teen and Burke entered a sexual relationship when she was 13 and he was 18; the relationship allegedly continued until she threatened to expose it, prompting the alleged murder.
Official Statements & Responses
District Attorney Nathan Hochman asserted that the alleged motive—silencing a key witness to protect a multimillion-dollar music career—supports the special-circumstance allegation of murder for financial gain.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey C. Ukpoga, whose office released the autopsy report months after the discovery, described the delay as “unfathomable” for the grieving family and reiterated that the cause of death was homicide caused by sharp-force injuries.
Criticism & Opposition
Burke’s defense team, led by attorney Blair Berk, challenged the DNA evidence, arguing that the software only estimates the likelihood of Burke’s DNA being present in the mixture and does not prove it. The defense also noted that investigators did not swab the chainsaws or conduct exhaustive touch-DNA testing on many items, suggesting the possibility of alternative perpetrators.
On-the-Ground Reports
Detective Joshua Byers described opening the Tesla’s front trunk to find a black body bag containing the torso and head, with a second bag holding severed limbs. He testified, “You could see various limbs of a body … arms and legs that had been severed.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Dr. Ho could not determine the exact time of death; he said the victim had been dead “at least weeks” and possibly “four to five months.”
- Toxicology showed a low level of alcohol that may have formed post-mortem; tests for benzodiazepines and methamphetamine were inconclusive.
- While DNA matches are statistically strong, the defense notes that DNA can transfer without direct contact, and the presence of Burke’s DNA on the trash bag remains an “estimated” probability rather than a definitive match.
What’s Next
Judge Olmedo is expected to issue a ruling on probable cause within days. If she finds sufficient evidence, the case will proceed to a jury trial where the special-circumstance allegations could expose Burke to life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty, despite California’s moratorium on executions. The defense will continue to contest the forensic methodology and explore alternative suspect theories.
