July 27, 2026: D4vd Ordered to Stand Trial for Murdering, Dismembering 14-Year-Old Girl

Prosecution called 12 witnesses; defendant set to return to court on Aug. 31

LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge today ordered David Anthony Burke, also known as D4vd, to stand trial on charges he murdered 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposed and dismembered body was found in the front trunk of his car last year.

"What was presented by our Office over the course of the last week is a small but illustrative fraction of the evidence investigators have accumulated that proves defendant Burke is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. "This has been a parent's worst nightmare, hearing the ghoulish details of how their child was killed, dismembered and left as trash.

D4vd allegedly squandered his fame and fortune by brutally killing a young girl because he feared their illicit sexual relationship would ruin his aspiring career. The only headlines that will accompany his stage name from here forward will be about the vicious murder of a young girl."

Burke (dob 3/28/05) has been charged with one count each of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

The criminal complaint also includes special circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain and murder by means of lying in wait as well as a special allegation that Burke personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime.

He is scheduled to return for a post-preliminary arraignment on August 31 in Department 105 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

During the five-day preliminary hearing, prosecutors laid out the framework of their case against Burke. A dozen witnesses were called by the prosecution to describe key evidence that proves the defendant killed Celeste.

On April 23, 2025, Burke invited the victim to his home in Hollywood Hills. She arrived at the defendant's house and was never seen again.

The following day, the defendant is accused of ordering a shovel that was delivered to his home. Over the next several days, Burke, using an alias, allegedly ordered three chainsaws, a body bag and a blue inflatable pool.

Prosecutors allege that Burke fatally stabbed Celeste, then placed her body in the inflatable pool and used a chainsaw to dismember her. Testimony showed that blood matching the victim's DNA profile was found in the defendant's garage.

On Sept. 8, 2025, the victim's decomposed and dismembered remains were found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke that had been impounded after the vehicle was reported abandoned. Small, blue plastic fragments from the blue inflatable pool Burke purchased were found embedded in the victim's remains.

Burke had a lucrative career as a singer and songwriter and text messages between the defendant and Celeste in the days and hours leading up to her murder showed that the victim threatened to expose Burke and destroy his career, prosecutors said.

If convicted as charged, Burke faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.

Case 26CJCF02399 is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman of the Major Crimes Division and remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division.

The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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