22.07.2026 11:00
The 21-year-old viral singer David Burke, known by his stage name D4vd, faced a preliminary hearing in the murder trial where he is accused of killing his 14-year-old girlfriend and dismembering her body. The prosecution presented chilling evidence to the court regarding the planning of the murder and the dismemberment of the body.
The preliminary hearing began in the murder trial of 21-year-old phenomenal singer David Burke, known by his stage name D4vd. The prosecution alleges that Burke stabbed his 14-year-old girlfriend Celeste Rivas Hernandez to death after she threatened to make their relationship public, and then dismembered her body. Arrested in April, Burke faces charges of first-degree murder, desecration of a corpse, and child sexual abuse. While Burke denies all charges, the case carries penalties that could include the death penalty.
APPEARED IN COURT IN ORANGE JUMPSUIT AND HANDCUFFS
The prosecution's goal in the preliminary hearing is to show the court that there is sufficient evidence to move the case to trial. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo noted at the start of the hearing that the victim's family was present in the courtroom. Burke, brought to court in an orange prison jumpsuit and handcuffs, was seen smiling with his lawyers.
PURCHASED CHAINSAWS USING A FAKE NAME
Throughout the hearing, the prosecution presented the court with crime scene photos, as well as images of three chainsaws, a shovel, and various equipment that Burke is alleged to have purchased online using a fake name after the murder. According to the prosecution, Burke used a blue inflatable kiddie pool in his garage to prevent blood from spilling onto the floor while dismembering the body.
DISMEMBERED BODY FOUND IN HIS CAR
Los Angeles Police Department Detective Joshua Byers, testifying in court, stated that Hernandez's remains were found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke in September 2025. Byers said that lot attendants at a tow yard called the police due to a strong odor emanating from the vehicle. According to the detective's testimony, Hernandez's head and torso were found in a black body bag in the front trunk of the car. It was stated that her severed arms and legs were placed in a plastic trash bag underneath the body bag.
Byers also testified that the tattoo "SHHH..." on Hernandez's right index finger was identical to the tattoo on Burke's own right index finger.
COMMITTED BRUTAL MURDER AND WENT ON TOUR
The prosecution, alleging that blue plastic fragments from the inflatable pool used to dismember the body were found on Hernandez's remains, stated that the body was in the Tesla's trunk from July 29, 2025, and that Burke left the vehicle near his home and went on a concert tour.
RELATIONSHIP BEGAN WHEN THE CHILD WAS 11
The prosecution alleged that the sexual relationship between Burke and Hernandez began when the girl was just 11 years old. Messages recovered during the investigation were noted to include communications about sex, pregnancy, abortion, and the morning-after pill, as well as sexually explicit photos. The prosecution claims that Burke committed the murder out of fear that his career would be damaged after Hernandez threatened to make the relationship public.
It was also stated that Burke performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California approximately two weeks before the date the prosecution alleges the murder took place.
ROSE TO FAME ON TIKTOK
David Burke gained fame on TikTok in 2022 with songs he recorded for Fortnite videos. Following his breakthrough with the track "Romantic Homicide," he signed a multi-million dollar deal with Interscope Records. According to the prosecution, his debut studio album was released in April 2025, the same week his girlfriend Hernandez went missing.