Singer D4vd Faces Preliminary Hearing for Murder of 14-Year-Old Girl

Singer David Anthony Burke Faces Murder Charges in Los Angeles Superior Court

Burke Pleads Not Guilty to Capital Murder and Mutilation Charges

Burke was charged on April 20 with capital murder in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The murder charge includes special circumstance allegations of lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and killing a witness in a criminal investigation. If convicted of first-degree murder with these special circumstances, Burke could face the death penalty.

Dozens of reporters and photographers gathered outside the Clara Foltz Criminal Justice Center shortly after dawn on Tuesday for the proceedings. Inside the courtroom, Burke appeared without handcuffs after Judge Olmedo granted a defense request to remove them, allowing him to take notes and drink water more easily; however, he remained restrained with a waist chain secured to his chair. While graphic crime scene photographs were displayed on courtroom monitors, Burke appeared to keep his eyes fixed on the screen throughout the presentation.

For more on this story, see D4vd Faces Preliminary Hearing Over Murder of 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

Detective Joshua Byers Details Discovery of Remains in Tesla Model X

The prosecution’s case includes testimony from LAPD Robbery-Homicide Detective Joshua Byers, who responded to a Hollywood tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025, after employees reported a strong odor coming from a black Tesla Model X with a Texas license plate. Byers testified that the vehicle had been ticketed on Sept. 3 and impounded two days later. Upon searching the vehicle, Byers said the front trunk, or “frunk,” contained a partially unzipped black body bag holding the girl’s decomposed torso and head, while a garbage bag underneath contained her severed arms and legs. Byers testified that the victim’s remains were unrecognizable due to decomposition and that two fingers on the victim’s left hand had been removed and were not recovered.

Prosecutors displayed photographs showing blue plastic fragments embedded in the victim’s right knee, a tattoo reading “SHH” on her right hand, and her left hand with the ring finger and pinky finger severed. According to an April 29 court filing by the prosecution, the remains were found just days after what would have been the girl’s 15th birthday. The filing noted that surveillance video and other evidence confirm Burke was the last person to drive the vehicle on July 29, 2025, before he left Los Angeles on a concert tour.

Senior Deputy Juan Gonzalez Recounts 2024 Welfare Check at Burke’s Home

Earlier in the proceedings, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Senior Deputy Juan Gonzalez testified that he conducted a welfare check at Burke’s West Hollywood home on Feb. 17, 2024, at the request of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Gonzalez told the court that Burke said he met Celeste through social media and Discord, believed she was 18 years old because she told me she was 18, and voluntarily showed deputies a sixth-grade yearbook photo of the teen. Gonzalez testified that Burke told deputies he had last seen the girl on Nov. 12, 2023, and last communicated with her on Feb. 13, 2024. When asked about his impression of Burke’s relationship with the girl, Gonzalez testified, I took it as he didn’t really know her.

This follows our earlier report, Rapper D4vd Faces Murder Charges as Prosecutors Present Graphic Evidence.

During the hearing, ADA Beth Silverman asked the deputy if Burke shared anything about his sexual relationship with the victim, but the question was met with a sustained objection. The victim’s parents and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman attended the hearing, and the District Attorney’s Office is expected to decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Burke, who remains jailed.

Sources: nytimes.com, lamag.com.