D4vd Returns to Court as Murder Case Advances to 2027

LOS ANGELES — Singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, returned to court in Los Angeles on October 19, 2026, as prosecutors pursue murder and other charges in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The brief hearing addressed preparations for the case, with a judge scheduling the next status conference for January 11, 2027.

According to the Los Angeles Times and NBC Los Angeles, Burke, 21, appeared with public defenders Walid Kandeel and Nicole Jones after his previous private legal team withdrew in August. The defense and prosecution are working to obtain additional evidence before the proceedings advance.

Burke pleaded not guilty on August 31 to first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains. He remains in custody without bail following his arrest on April 16, 2026, according to reports from NBC Los Angeles and Yahoo.

Rivas Hernandez's dismembered and decomposed remains were discovered on September 8, 2025, inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard. Prosecutors allege the teenager was killed in April 2025 and that her body was dismembered to conceal the crime.

At a preliminary hearing in July, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo found sufficient evidence for the case to proceed. The ruling allowed the prosecution to continue but did not establish Burke's guilt.

The murder charge includes special-circumstance allegations of lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and killing a witness in a criminal investigation. Prosecutors contend Burke killed the teenager because she threatened to disclose their alleged relationship, potentially damaging his music career. The allegations remain unproven in court.

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman argued during the preliminary hearing that the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death did not indicate an accident. Prosecutors also presented digital communications, cellphone data, financial records, and forensic evidence as part of their case.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not announced whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty. If convicted of the most serious charges and applicable special-circumstance allegations, Burke could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or a possible death sentence.

Burke's change in legal representation has also prompted questions about his financial eligibility for publicly funded counsel. Celeste's family has challenged the decision to assign him public defenders, arguing that his music-related business interests and earnings raise doubts about whether he qualifies for taxpayer-funded representation.

The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office has said it evaluated Burke's financial circumstances and determined that he qualified for its services. During the July preliminary hearing, former financial manager Benjamin Greger testified that Burke earned approximately $10 million to $11.5 million in gross income from recording, merchandise, and music publishing between 2023 and 2025.

The family's attorney, Patrick W. Steinfeld, has also filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit. In a statement released in September, the family called for Burke to receive the death penalty if the legal system permits it.

In the family's statement, relatives described the alleged harm caused to their daughter and family while expressing their view that the most severe punishment would be appropriate.

"If the death penalty were activated, it would be perfect for this kind of human being, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside, and without conscience, who only caused pain to our daughter, our family, and the world that supports our precious daughter," the Rivas Hernandez family said in a statement provided to the media.

The family also acknowledged that the final decision rests with legal authorities rather than the relatives themselves.

"But that's not in our hands, but rather in God's, and the California justice system," the Rivas Hernandez family added.

Separately, a report published by The Times of India on October 17 described an unconfirmed investigative lead involving a second individual whose digital data allegedly placed that person in the Hollywood Hills around the period of the teenager's suspected death. The report cited TMZ and criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos, but authorities had not publicly confirmed the alleged connection or announced an arrest involving another person as of October 16.

The reported lead remains unverified, and the available reports do not establish that the unidentified individual was involved in the death. The medical examiner had also not established the exact cause of Rivas Hernandez's death, according to The Times of India report.

Burke's next status conference is scheduled for January 11, 2027, as both sides continue preparing for the case to proceed.