Full Breakdown
Judge Rules Singer D4vd Must Stand Trial for Murder, Child Abuse and Dismemberment
7/28/2026, 11:14:16 PM
Core Event
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo concluded a five-day preliminary hearing, finding probable-cause evidence to move forward with a trial of David Burke – known as D4vd – on first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains involving 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty and will remain in custody without bail. An arraignment is scheduled for 31 August, and the trial is expected to begin within 90 days.
Background & Context
Prosecutors allege Burke began a sexual relationship with Rivas Hernandez when she was 11 (August 8 2022) and escalated to abuse at age 13 while he was 18. Text messages from Burke’s iPhone show discussions of contraception, a pregnancy and an abortion in early 2024, and the exchange of graphic sexual content. The teen’s parents gave written consent for a 2024 trip to London with Burke. Her dismembered remains were discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke on September 8 2025, months after she was last seen alive.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 8 2022 | First online contact. |
| April 22 2025 | Threatening texts from the teen. |
| April 25 2025 | Release of Burke’s album Withered. |
| September 8 2025 | Dismembered body found. |
| April 16 2026 | Burke arrested. |
| July 21-27 2026 | Preliminary hearing; DNA, chainsaw receipts, 9,000 texts, autopsy photos presented. |
| 31 August 2026 (scheduled) | Arraignment. |
| ~Late 2026 | Trial projected to begin within 90 days of arraignment. |
Official Statements
- Judge Charlaine Olmedo – “The people have met their burden on all counts.”
- DA Nathan Hochman – “We believe the evidence at trial will be overwhelming to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
- Deputy DA Beth Silverman – Emphasized the teen was groomed and gaslit for months.
- Family attorney Patrick Steinfeld – Called the defense’s strategy “abhorrent” for attempting to place blame on the victim.
Criticism & Opposition
The family’s counsel condemned the defense’s effort to shift responsibility onto the 14-year-old, describing it as “disturbing.” Prosecutors countered that the defense’s arguments amount to “dirtying up the victim.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The medical examiner could not determine a precise time of death due to advanced decomposition.
- No surveillance captured Burke at his home on April 23 2025, and no eyewitnesses saw the teen enter the residence.
- Toxicology for methamphetamine was inconclusive; benzodiazepine tests were negative.
- Chainsaws recovered tested negative for blood, and the “burn box” was too small to destroy a body, leaving uncertainty about the dismemberment method.
What’s Next
- 31 August 2026 – Formal arraignment.
- Trial – Expected to commence within 90 days of the arraignment, likely in late 2026, pending evidentiary rulings.
The case remains under intense public scrutiny as prosecutors prepare to present the full body of forensic, digital and financial evidence at trial.
