Singer D4vd to stand trial in Celeste Rivas Hernandez murder
What to Know
- Singer and TikTok star D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, is charged with murder and other crimes in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
- Burke, now 21, was also charged with one count each of continuous sexual abuse of a child under age 14 and mutilation of human remains.
- After a five-day preliminary hearing that concluded Monday, Burke was ordered held for trial after prosecutors presented evidence in support of the charges against him.
- Celeste, who lived with her family in the lake Elsinore area, was considered the key witness in that investigation into child sex abuse.
- Prosecutors have said Celeste was killed because the relationship between the two posed a threat to Burke’s lucrative music career.
- Celeste’s dismembered remains were found last year, a day after what would have been her 15th birthday, in the pop singer’s abandoned Tesla at a tow yard.
Singer and TikTok star D4vd was ordered to stand trial in the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after prosecutors presented evidence at a five-day preliminary hearing that wrapped up Monday with more testimony from a LAPD detective about text exchanges between the two and attorneys’ closing arguments.
New evidence, disturbing photos, details from forensics investigators and text messages, some from the night authorities said they believe Celeste was killed, were shown by prosecutors during the preliminary hearing in an effort to convince a judge that D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, should go before a jury on first-degree murder and other charges.
At a news conference after the judge’s ruling, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors methodically presented evidence that included a detailed yearslong timeline of interactions between Burke and Celeste at ages 12, 13 and 14.
“That eventually led to the time Celeste went to Burke’s house and has never been heard from again,” Hochman said.
Arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 31. A trial date has not been set.
An attorney for Celeste’s family said they are relieved the judge ordered Burke held for trial.
On Monday, a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department who took the stand on Friday continued his testimony. The detective spoke last week about what was found on Burke’s phone, one of several key pieces of digital evidence that prosecutors said ties Burke to the sexual abuse of the teen.
Some of the texts were explicit and others dealt with abortion, marriage plans, Celeste running away from home and ultimately the end of what Burke apparently saw as a romantic relationship. The detective also described sexually explicit images found on Burke’s phone that show him with Celeste when he was 18 and 19 years old and she was 13.
In February 2024, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy conducting a welfare check at Burke’s home and informed him Celeste was 13.
In a June 2024 text message, Burke suggested that they marry the next year, according to the detective, who said the two were 13 and 19 at the time.
More text exchanges were presented at Monday’s hearing, including several from April 22 and 23, the date prosecutors said they believe Celeste was killed. They included messages in which Celeste threatened to end D4vd’s lucrative music career and the two argued over Burke’s relationship with another girl or woman.
The text messages indicated Burke called for a ride-share pickup on the night of April 23 at Celeste’s family home in Lake Elsinore to his Hollywood Hills residence.
At 10:10 p.m., Burke texted that the front door was open, according to the messages presented in court. At 10:31 p.m., he texted again to ask for an update on her location. The detective testified that Celeste’s death was likely within that 21-minute window between texts.
Burke’s phone and the Tesla left the residence around 11:30 p.m. and all communication between his phone and Celeste’s stopped after April 26, the detective said.
When questioning the detective, defense attorney Blair Berk argued that the text messages suggest it was Celeste who demanded to see him that night after he initially resisted.
She emphasized that the girl’s friends, family and other were aware of the relationship. Monday’s evidence included a notarized child consent form that revealed Celeste’s parents allow her to visit London with Burke in 2024.
Testimony concluded later Monday morning, setting the stage for closing arguments, during which defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski argued there was insufficient evidence to hold Burke for trial and contended the prosecution’s case relied almost entirely on circumstantial evidence. Bednarski said the text messages demonstrated provocation by Celeste, not premeditation by Burke, challenging allegations of lying in wait and murder for financial gain.
Prosecutors argued during closing arguments that they met the probable-cause standard and that Burke’s alleged concealment and dismemberment of Celeste’s remains, disposal of evidence and other actions demonstrated planning, supporting charges of first-degree murder and other crimes. The motive, prosecutors argued, was tied to protecting his music career and preventing a sexual relationship with a minor from coming to light.
They claimed Burke carried out an extensive cover-up.
Celeste’s dismembered and decomposing remains were found last year, a day after what would have been Celeste’s 15th birthday, in the pop singer’s abandoned Tesla at a tow yard where it was transported after residents reported the abandoned vehicle in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood. The medical examiner explained that Celeste was the victim of a homicide likely caused by “sharp force injuries” to her chest and abdomen.
Burke was charged April 20 with capital murder. The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegations of lying in wait, murder for financial gain and killing a witness in a criminal investigation. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is expected to decide later whether to seek the death penalty.
Hochman has said the lying-in-wait allegation stems from D4vd’s invitation to the teen to come to his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, while the financial gain allegation stems from the singer’s effort to maintain his lucrative music career, which was being threatened by his alleged sexual relationship with the underage girl, Hochman said.
The teen was considered the key witness in that investigation, leading to the allegation of murdering a witness, the district attorney said.
Burke is also charged with one count each of continuous sexual abuse of a child under age 14 and mutilation of human remains.
He has pleaded not guilty through his attorneys, who have maintained his innocence.
Celeste’s family issued a statement days after the charges were filed.
“We would like to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for their hard work,” a statement by Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, the girl’s parents, said. “We would also like to thank the people of Lake Elsinore for all their support.”
The “Romantic Homicide” singer’s world tour was in Minneapolis at the time of the discovery with a stop in Kansas City the next day. A representative told NBC Los Angeles at the time that D4vd was cooperating with authorities in their investigation.
D4vd is a singer-songwriter who rose to fame with viral hits on TikTok, where he has 3.8 million followers. That success led to signings with Darkroom and Interscope Records.
Born in Queens, New York, Burke moved to Texas in his early teens and gained a following on YouTube playing Fortnite and other online games. He started creating original music, some of which went viral on TikTok.
D4vd released his debut album “Withered” in April 2025 and embarked on a world tour.
In an interview on the “Zach Sang Show,” D4vd said the 4 substituted for the a in his name was for search-engine optimization and a representation of four cinematic universes with various characters that he was creating.
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