A preliminary hearing began this week in the murder case against David Anthony Burke, a singer who performs as D4vd, following the discovery of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains in a vehicle registered to Burke. Prosecutors presented graphic crime scene photographs and evidence to establish probable cause for the case to proceed to trial. The girl’s body was discovered in September 2025 inside a Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard, showing severe decomposition and dismemberment.
According to homicide detective Joshua Byers’ testimony, Burke had made online purchases in the days following Celeste’s death for items including chainsaws, body bags, an inflatable pool and a shovel. Prosecutors contend Burke used these items to dismember and conceal the victim’s remains. The prosecution’s theory holds that Burke, 21, killed Celeste because she threatened to expose their relationship and damage his music career, following an alleged pattern of sexual abuse spanning several years.
Celeste’s mother attended the hearing despite advance warnings about the graphic nature of the evidence, stating she wanted to be present to show support for her daughter. The family’s attorney characterized the experience as devastating, noting that certain images were so severely decomposed that their content was not immediately recognizable. Burke pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and sexual abuse and remained shackled in an orange jail uniform throughout the proceedings.
The courtroom drew significant public interest, with attendees including journalists, content creators and members of the public who entered a lottery for limited seating. Prosecutors presented evidence including tattoos bearing Celeste’s name and a silencing gesture found on both Burke and the victim, which investigators characterized as connecting the two. The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue over several days as prosecutors call additional witnesses to establish sufficient evidence for trial.
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