D4vd murder trial set after judge finds enough evidence
A Los Angeles judge ruled D4vd must face trial in the alleged killing and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
D4vd will face a murder trial in Los Angeles after a judge ruled Monday that prosecutors presented enough evidence to move ahead in the case over the alleged killing and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Los Angeles Judge Charlaine Olmedo made the ruling at the end of a preliminary hearing, according to the Associated Press. Olmedo said in court that “the people have met their burden on all counts,” the AP reported. The singer, whose real name is David Burke, will remain in custody without bail.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to Variety. After prosecutors finished presenting evidence during the hearing, his defense team did not call witnesses.
Why is D4vd going to trial?
A preliminary hearing is used to decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence for a criminal case to proceed to trial. Judge Olmedo’s ruling means the charges against Burke cleared that threshold, though he has not been convicted.
Prosecutors allege Burke killed Hernandez, whose body was later found in September 2025 in the front trunk of his Tesla. During the hearing, prosecutors showed crime-scene photographs of the teen’s dismembered remains, according to Variety.
Prosecutors also alleged that Burke bought two cadaver bags, a shovel and three chainsaws after Hernandez’s death. They said nearly a dozen air fresheners were found inside the Tesla where her body was discovered.
People reported that an LAPD criminalist testified blood found inside Burke’s garage was consistent with Rivas’ DNA. Prosecutors also presented messages they said showed Hernandez and Burke discussing ending a pregnancy when she was 14, and messages shown in court Monday suggested Hernandez had threatened to damage Burke’s career before she died, according to Variety.
What happened to Celeste Rivas Hernandez?
Hernandez was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, when she went to Burke’s Hollywood Hills home, according to Variety. Her body was found months later in multiple bags in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla.
Her arms and legs had been removed, and her body was badly decomposed when it was found, Variety reported. The Los Angeles County medical examiner later determined that Hernandez died from multiple penetrating injuries and listed the manner of death as homicide.
Burke was arrested in April and charged days later, according to Variety. He faces a first-degree murder charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty. He is also set to face charges of lewd acts with a child and dismembering Hernandez’s body.
At an April hearing, prosecutors alleged Burke had a “significant amount” of child pornography stored on his iCloud account, Variety reported. Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said investigators had found eight terabytes of data on one iCloud account and had downloaded one terabyte at that point. Prosecutors also said investigators found 20 to 30 terabytes of raw data across devices.
D4vd rose to prominence as a singer and performed at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, according to Getty Images information cited by Variety. The criminal case now moves toward trial in Los Angeles, with Burke remaining held without bail.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.