Singer D4vd, legally known as David Burke, ordered a body bag, chain saws, an inflatable pool and a shovel online in the days after the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a homicide detective testified Tuesday.
Prosecutors allege Burke, 21, used these items to dismember Rivas Hernandez’s body after he fatally stabbed her for threatening to expose their relationship and damage a music career that a witness stated had generated over $10 million in a couple of years. The testimony came on the first day of a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for Burke to proceed to trial.
Homicide Detective Joshua Byers testified that Burke used the alias Trayvion Davis for the online orders but used his own credit cards and had the items delivered to his Hollywood home. Burke's defense attorneys maintain that he did not cause Rivas Hernandez’s death. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
Byers stated that most of the items purchased, including two chain saws and a blue pool, were found in Burke’s garage during a warranted search. Prosecutors previously reported that a blood stain in the garage matched Rivas Hernandez’s DNA. The detective also testified that the body bag Burke ordered was consistent with the one found containing the head and torso of Rivas Hernandez in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard on September 8, 2025.
Lead prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman presented photos in court depicting the dismembered and decomposing body of Rivas Hernandez. Authorities discovered garbage bags containing the girl's arms and legs beneath the body bag. During cross-examination, Burke's lawyer, Blair Berk, questioned Detective Byers on whether the body bag had been tested to establish a link to the defendant, focusing on the investigation and handling of the crime scene and the body.
Byers explained that the medical examiner at the scene indicated the bag could not be collected as evidence due to the extreme decomposition of the body, which prevented its removal from the bag. Rivas Hernandez’s parents were present in the courtroom, alongside numerous reporters and members of the public who had obtained seats through a lottery system. Her mother reportedly looked away when images of the body were displayed.
Investigators did not immediately identify Rivas Hernandez’s body upon its discovery. Byers testified that her father, Jesus Rivas, contacted police a few days after the body’s discovery after seeing news reports and fearing it was his daughter. The presented photos showed blue fragments on the body, which prosecutors claim originated from the inflatable pool.
Byers also testified that upon arresting Burke, he and his partner observed a tattoo on Burke's finger that read 'Celeste' in red. A photograph of this tattoo was shown in court. Another tattoo on a different finger read "Shhh" and was identical to one found on Rivas Hernandez’s finger.
Prosecutors also showed body camera footage from February 2024, where Burke spoke with sheriff's deputies investigating Rivas Hernandez's initial missing person report. In the video, Burke claimed he had met the girl only once in person and was unaware she was a minor, stating, "She told me she was 18." Prosecutors allege Burke had been in a sexual relationship with Rivas Hernandez for several months prior, at which time he was 18 years old. Burke stated he first encountered her online as a fan on Discord and Instagram in 2020 or 2021.
LA County Sheriff’s Deputy Juan Gonzalez, whose body camera footage was shown, testified that Burke had been cooperative and permitted deputies to search his home, where no sign of Rivas Hernandez was found. The report notes that Rivas Hernandez had been reported missing multiple times in the years leading up to her death. The interaction in the video was described as friendly, with one deputy complimenting Burke on his music career.
The preliminary hearing, anticipated to last approximately four days, functions as an abbreviated trial. Judge Charlaine Olmedo will determine if the prosecution has presented enough evidence to establish probable cause for a trial. District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated outside the hearing that his office has not yet decided whether to pursue the death penalty. Burke, who has been held without bail since his arrest, appeared in court in jail attire. The judge ruled that his hands could be uncuffed but he must remain shackled to his chair.
A court filing indicated that Burke arranged for a car to pick up Rivas Hernandez from her hometown of Lake Elsinore, California, approximately 80 miles from Los Angeles, on April 23, 2025. They exchanged messages until her arrival at his residence, after which her phone became inactive. The document further stated, "Knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened... defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out."
One of Burke’s financial managers, Benjamin Gregor, testified that Burke earned between $10 million and $11.5 million from 2023 to 2025. D4vd initially gained recognition creating music for YouTube videos related to the video game Fortnite. His music, a blend of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop, gained popularity on platforms like TikTok, Soundcloud, and Spotify, with his 2022 song "Romantic Homicide" accumulating over a billion streams. In 2023, he released two EPs and opened for SZA on tour. The following year, he performed at the Coachella music festival and released a full album, embarking on a promotional tour around the time the body was discovered.
A courtroom sketch depicts David Anthony Burke in court on July 21, 2026.