Prosecutors Detail Alleged Motive in D4vd Murder Case
The murder case against musician David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, moved to a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles this week. Prosecutors allege the 21-year-old killed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to conceal a sexual relationship. Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of human remains.
Graphic Testimony Reveals Discovery in Tesla
During the opening of the multi-day preliminary hearing, prosecutors displayed graphic images of the victim’s remains, which were discovered in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla in September 2025. According to testimony from LAPD Det. Joshua Byers, the state of decomposition made facial identification impossible at the time of discovery. The state contends that Burke killed Rivas Hernandez on April 23, 2025, inside his rented Hollywood Hills home. Court documents allege that Burke dismembered the victim’s body using tools purchased on Amazon before placing the remains in his vehicle.
A History of Prior Law Enforcement Contact
The court reviewed body-worn camera footage from February 17, 2024, showing Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies conducting a welfare check at Burke’s residence after the victim was reported missing in Riverside County. In the video, Burke told deputies he had met the girl online and communicated with her, but claimed he did not know her whereabouts. He even showed deputies a missing person’s flyer for Rivas Hernandez during the encounter.
Defense Rejects State’s Narrative
Burke faces charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The complaint includes special circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Defense attorney Blair Berk has maintained her client’s innocence. In an April 22 hearing, Berk stated, “We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez, nor was he the cause of her death.”
Judge Weighs Probable Cause for Trial
Judge Olmedo presided over the hearing and addressed the defendant’s physical restraints. While Burke had been shackled in previous appearances, the judge granted a request to remove his hand restraints, though he remains tethered to his chair. The court is currently weighing whether there is sufficient probable cause to proceed to a full jury trial. As of the current hearing, prosecutors have not announced a final decision on whether they will pursue the death penalty.
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