Everything to know about the D4vd case

David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, faces first-degree murder and related charges in the 2025 death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The case reached a key milestone in late July 2026 when a Los Angeles judge found probable cause to send him to trial. Public attention has stayed fixed on the musician’s rapid rise and the grim facts presented in court.

Early career rise

Burke was born in Queens in 2005 and raised in Houston. He released “Romantic Homicide” in 2022 and watched it climb streaming charts after a TikTok push. Interscope signed him the next year, and his follow-up single “Here With Me” reached millions of listeners.

By early 2025 he had sold out venues and earned several million dollars. His debut album Withered was scheduled for release that fall. The planned world tour was canceled days after the body discovery.

Burke has not posted on social media or appeared in public since September 2025. His catalog remains available on streaming services, though radio play has dropped sharply.

Victim background

Celeste Abigail Rivas Hernandez was born in 2010. Court filings state she met Burke through online messages in early 2025. Prosecutors allege the two began a sexual relationship that continued until her death.

Her family reported her missing in late April 2025. She was last confirmed alive on April 23 outside Burke’s rented Hollywood Hills residence. No missing-person posters circulated widely at the time.

Her remains were not found until September 8 at an impound lot. The discovery restarted the stalled investigation and shifted public focus to the singer.

Discovery of the body

A black Tesla Model X registered to Burke was towed after a parking violation. Workers at the Hollywood tow yard opened the front trunk and found the body inside. The car had been stored there since late April.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner determined the death occurred months earlier. Decomposition prevented an exact cause of death, but investigators noted dismemberment and concealment. Prosecutors claim the method was chosen to avoid detection.

Police impounded the vehicle the same day. Digital records from the car later showed it had been driven to Burke’s residence on April 23 and remained there until the tow.

Arrest and charges

Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026. The Los Angeles County District Attorney filed seven counts four days later. The most serious charge is first-degree murder with special circumstances of financial gain and killing a potential witness.

Additional counts include continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. If convicted on the murder count with special circumstances, Burke could face the death penalty. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment.

He is currently held without bail at Men’s Central Jail. The next scheduled court date is the August 31, 2026 arraignment, after which a trial date will be set.

Preliminary hearing evidence

Over three days in July 2026, LAPD detectives presented phone records, DNA results, and purchase histories. Messages recovered from Burke’s device included sexually explicit images of the victim and discussions about abortion. Prosecutors introduced the data to establish both the relationship and motive.

Forensic analysts testified that DNA found on a rowing machine, tarp, and Tesla charger matched the victim. The probability ratio cited in court was one septillion times more likely to belong to Celeste Rivas Hernandez than to an unrelated person.

Investigators also documented Amazon purchases of a chainsaw, body bag, pool chemicals, and a shovel in the weeks after the death. The defense argued these items were bought for home maintenance and did not prove cause of death.

Defense position

Burke’s attorneys maintain he did not cause the victim’s death. They have not disputed the sexual relationship documented in messages. Their strategy centers on challenging the timeline and the scientific certainty of the cause of death.

Defense experts questioned the handling of the Tesla and the five-month delay before discovery. They also noted that the medical examiner could not determine how the victim died. The judge ruled that these disputes could be addressed at trial.

Public statements from the defense team have been limited to court filings. No interviews have been granted since the preliminary hearing concluded.

Industry response

Interscope and Darkroom halted all promotion immediately after the September discovery. Streaming platforms removed official playlists featuring D4vd tracks but left the songs available for individual plays. Radio monitoring services reported a 70 percent drop in spins within two weeks.

Merchandise sales ceased. The planned vinyl release of Withered was canceled. Several festivals that had booked Burke quietly replaced him on lineups without comment.

Industry observers note that similar cases have led to permanent catalog delisting only after conviction. Current practice keeps recordings accessible while pausing active marketing.

Public reaction

Online discussion has split between fans expressing disbelief and others highlighting the seriousness of the charges. TikTok videos referencing the case have accumulated millions of views, though most contain court documents rather than speculation.

Advocacy groups focused on missing children have cited the case in renewed calls for faster cross-agency data sharing. Local Los Angeles media have run segments on tow-yard security after questions arose about how long the car sat before inspection.

No protests have formed outside the courthouse. Coverage has remained largely factual, with outlets citing the judge’s ruling rather than unverified claims.

Next legal steps

The August 31 arraignment will formalize trial logistics. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to file pre-trial motions on evidence admissibility. A trial date is likely to fall between October and December 2026.

If the case proceeds without delays, opening statements could begin within six months. Both sides have indicated they will seek to limit media coverage inside the courtroom.

Whatever the outcome, the D4vd case has already altered how labels handle young artists with sudden streaming success and minimal oversight. The next phase will determine whether additional evidence emerges before a jury.

Long-term implications

The D4vd case has already altered how labels handle young artists with sudden streaming success and minimal oversight. The next phase will determine whether additional evidence emerges before a jury.