January Status Conference Set in Murder Case Against Singer David Anthony Burke
A Los Angeles judge scheduled a January 11 status conference for singer D4vd, who faces capital murder charges after the dismembered remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were discovered in the trunk of his Tesla. The 21-year-old singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail while awaiting trial.
Burke entered a not guilty plea on August 31 to murder and related counts before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo. The prosecution’s case centers on allegations that Burke killed the teen to prevent her from exposing their relationship, which prosecutors claim threatened his music career. Defense attorneys Marilyn Bednarski, Blair Berk, and Regina Peter withdrew from the case on August 31, after which the court appointed attorneys from the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office to represent him.
Preliminary Hearing Evidence and Special Circumstance Allegations
During a preliminary hearing in July, Judge Charlaine Olmedo found sufficient evidence to allow the case against Burke to proceed to trial on capital murder charges. Additional special circumstances were filed by the state, including lying in wait, financial gain homicide, and the elimination of a witness to a criminal inquiry. Prosecutors assert that Burke invited Celeste to his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, as part of a plan.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman presented text messages and iCloud data showing communications between Burke and the victim that began in 2022 when she was 11 years old. LAPD Robbery-Homicide Detective Corey Farell testified that data recovered from Burke’s accounts indicated a text message on April 22, 2025, during which the teenager threatened to strangle him, tell her father “lies” about the singer and to “end ur career and ur life.”
Defense Arguments and Prosecution Rebuttals
Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski argued during the preliminary hearing that the evidence failed to establish any premeditation, watching and waiting, or intent by Burke to harm the teenager. Bednarski maintained that Burke expressed care for the victim even after their relationship ended and only agreed to let her visit his home after she repeatedly insisted. Prosecutors countered that the teenager was killed within 20 minutes of arriving via an Uber at the Hollywood Hills rental property.
The vehicle was towed from a location approximately 400 feet from Burke’s Hollywood Hills home three days before law enforcement discovered the remains inside on September 8, 2025. Relatives of the victim protested the appointment of the Public Defender’s Office for Burke, arguing that he is “not indigent.”
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