Singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, will stand trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a Los Angeles judge ruled following a preliminary hearing. Burke faces charges of first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains held without bail.
An arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 31, with a trial expected within 90 days. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that prosecutors presented only a fraction of their evidence during the preliminary hearing and expressed confidence that the evidence at trial will be overwhelming.
Prosecutors allege that Burke and Rivas Hernandez began a sexual relationship in 2023 when Burke was 18 and the victim was 13. It is alleged that Rivas Hernandez threatened to expose their relationship and jeopardize Burke's career if he did not remain exclusive to her. Prosecutors claim that on April 23, 2025, shortly before tickets for Burke's world tour were to go on sale, he arranged for an Uber to bring Rivas Hernandez to his Hollywood Hills home. This was the last time she was seen alive.
Authorities allege that Burke repeatedly stabbed the teen, dismembered her body, and disposed of evidence. Her badly decomposed remains were discovered in September 2025 inside two body bags in the front trunk of Burke's impounded Tesla. Her passport was later found on a rural road in Santa Barbara County in January.
During the five-day hearing, investigators presented graphic testimony detailing the scene where Rivas Hernandez's body was found. A Los Angeles Police Department criminologist testified that at least 11 air fresheners were found inside the Tesla, which had a strong odor. The teen's father contacted the LAPD after seeing news reports about an unidentified body in Burke's vehicle, leading to the identification of the remains through dental records.
Investigators testified that items including chainsaws, a mop system, cadaver bags, and a blue inflatable pool were ordered to Burke's home under an alias in the days following Rivas Hernandez's disappearance. While two chainsaws found in the garage tested negative for blood, a third was not recovered. A rubber mat in the garage had cuts and red marks that tested positive for Rivas Hernandez's DNA.
Fragments from a damaged inflatable pool found in the garage were determined to be a physical match to blue plastic fragments embedded in the victim's knee. Cellphone records showed Burke's phone and Tesla traveled to the Santa Barbara County location where evidence was found on three occasions, including the night Rivas Hernandez was last seen alive and twice in May 2025.
Following Burke's arrest, detectives noted a "Shhh..." tattoo on his right index finger and a "Celeste" tattoo on his left ring finger. Rivas Hernandez had a matching "Shhh..." tattoo on her right index finger, and a tattoo of Burke's name on her left ring finger, which was missing from her remains. The medical examiner testified that the ring and pinky fingers on her left hand had been amputated, and the dismemberment was potentially consistent with the use of a power tool.
Testimony from Burke's financial manager and an employee from his former record label indicated that Burke generated approximately $11 million between 2023 and 2025 through music and merchandise, with significant future earnings anticipated.
Text messages recovered from Burke's phone and iCloud account reportedly showed a sexual relationship between Burke and Rivas Hernandez and included explicit photographs. Her last text messages, sent while she was en route to Burke's home on April 23, 2025, indicated she was arriving and asked him to open the door. Burke responded, "got uuu." Rivas Hernandez sent no further messages, although Burke continued to text her, which prosecutors allege was part of a cover-up.
Burke's attorneys have stated they intend to vigorously defend him, asserting that the evidence will show he did not murder Rivas Hernandez nor was he the cause of her death.