Full Breakdown
D4vd Preliminary Hearing: Evidence and Legal Stakes
7/28/2026, 2:20:50 AM
Core Event – Los Angeles Preliminary Hearing
Prosecutors and defense attorneys presented competing narratives in a multi-day preliminary hearing to determine whether singer David Burke (known as “D4vd”) will face trial on charges of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of a body. The hearing, held at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, focused on the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke in September 2025. Judge Charlaine Olmedo will decide if the prosecution has shown probable cause to proceed.
Background & Context
Burke, a TikTok-fueled indie-pop artist, allegedly began a sexual relationship with Rivas when she was 11 and he was 17. Text messages recovered from his iPhone trace the interaction through 2022-2025, including discussions of pregnancy, abortions, and travel plans. Prosecutors argue that Rivas threatened to expose the relationship, prompting Burke to stab her on April 23, 2025, and dismember her in his Hollywood Hills garage. The defense maintains that Burke did not cause her death and challenges the forensic evidence.
Timeline
- 2022 – Earliest texts between the pair.
- June 10, 2024 – Rivas texts, “What if the first abortion didn’t work.”
- April 3, 2025 – Rivas reported missing after a visit to Burke’s home.
- September 8, 2025 – Remains found in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla.
- April 16, 2025 – Burke arrested on the charges.
Data & Statistics
- DNA samples from a rubber mat, rowing machine, and a Tesla charger in Burke’s garage matched Rivas with a likelihood “one septillion times more likely” than any other individual.
- Blood-type stains were identified on the garage floor, though the analyst could not confirm they were blood.
- Autopsy: two penetrating injuries (abdomen and left chest) consistent with fatal sharp-force trauma; arms, legs, and two fingers were severed, likely using a power tool.
- Toxicology on liver tissue yielded an inconclusive methamphetamine result; benzodiazepine presence was ruled negative.
Official Statements & Responses
The prosecution asserts that Burke killed Rivas to prevent exposure of their sexual relationship and protect his multimillion-dollar music career. District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the alleged motive as “financial gain” and “lying in wait.”
Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski questioned the medical examiner about the toxicology report, receiving confirmation that there was no evidence of an overdose. Defense counsel Blair Berk emphasized uncertainties in the DNA evidence, noting that touch DNA can be difficult to interpret. Criminalist Lauren Wallace echoed this limitation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While DNA matches strongly link Rivas to samples in Burke’s garage, the analyst could not confirm the material was blood, leaving open the possibility of secondary transfer. The medical examiner could not determine a precise time of death, stating the victim had been deceased “at least weeks” and possibly since April 25, 2025. Defense experts highlighted the lack of DNA on the chainsaws used for dismemberment and the prosecution’s reliance on circumstantial evidence such as text messages and purchase records for body-bag supplies.
What’s Next
Judge Olmedo is scheduled to issue a ruling on whether the prosecution has met the probable-cause threshold to move the case to trial. If a trial proceeds, prosecutors have indicated they may seek the death penalty, while the defense plans to challenge the forensic interpretations and explore alternative suspect theories.
