D4vd Update: He pleads not guilty—here’s every charge

The D4vd Update that matters most right now is the August 31 plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court. David Anthony Burke, the 21-year-old singer known professionally as D4vd, entered not-guilty pleas on every count in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The case now moves toward trial with a status conference set for October 19.

Background on the accused

Burke was born in Queens and raised in Houston before his TikTok clips and gaming montages caught the attention of Darkroom/Interscope. His 2025 debut album Withered and the Fortnite tie-in track helped him reach millions of followers. That career trajectory stopped when he was arrested on April 16, 2026.

Prosecutors say the relationship with Hernandez began when she was 13. They allege it continued until her death in spring 2025. A text message sent the night before she disappeared read, “i will end ur career and ur life.”

Defense attorney Blair Berk stated in April that evidence will show Burke neither killed Hernandez nor caused her death. On August 31 he switched to public defenders, a move the court record confirms.

Discovery of the remains

Hernandez was reported missing from Lake Elsinore in April 2025. Her dismembered remains were found on September 8 inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke. The car had been towed to a Hollywood impound lot.

Investigators determined the body had been placed in plastic bags after being cut apart. A medical examiner noted the use of a sharp instrument, an allegation now listed as a sentencing enhancement.

The remains were identified through dental records. The discovery triggered a multi-agency investigation that led to the April 20, 2026 filing of criminal charges.

First-degree murder count

Count one charges first-degree murder with special circumstances. Prosecutors allege the killing was committed while lying in wait, for financial gain, and to prevent the victim from exposing a crime.

The financial-gain circumstance rests on the claim that Burke acted to protect his music income. District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman told reporters the threat to “end ur career” supplied the motive.

Special circumstances make Burke eligible for the death penalty or life without parole. The DA’s office has not yet announced whether it will seek death.

Sexual-abuse allegations

Count two alleges continuous lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. Prosecutors say the abuse began in fall 2023 and continued until Hernandez’s death.

The complaint details multiple encounters over roughly 18 months. Each incident is presented as part of an ongoing pattern rather than isolated events.

If convicted on this count, Burke faces a sentence enhancement that runs consecutively to any murder term. The enhancement carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years to life.

Mutilation of human remains

Count three charges unlawful mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors allege Burke used a sharp instrument to dismember the body before placing the parts in the Tesla trunk.

The complaint specifies that the dismemberment occurred after death. No weapon has been introduced in court filings, but the enhancement for personal use of a sharp instrument remains attached.

A conviction on this count adds up to four years in state prison, to be served consecutively with other sentences.

Preliminary hearing outcome

Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo conducted a five-day hearing in July 2026. She ruled that prosecutors had presented enough evidence to bind Burke over for trial on all counts.

The defense called no witnesses. Burke remained silent during the proceedings, as required under California procedure at that stage.

The ruling cleared the path for the August 31 rearraignment where the not-guilty pleas were formally entered on the record.

Procedural timeline ahead

The next scheduled court date is a status conference on October 19, 2026. No trial date has been set; observers expect proceedings to begin in 2027.

Discovery is ongoing. Both sides have indicated they will file pretrial motions on the admissibility of text messages and forensic evidence.

Because the case carries special circumstances, any plea deal would require judicial and prosecutorial approval. None has been discussed publicly.

Civil lawsuit filed

On the first anniversary of the remains discovery, Hernandez’s parents filed a wrongful-death suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The complaint names Burke, his mother Colleen Burke, and several managers.

The suit alleges wrongful death, sexual battery, human trafficking, negligence, and emotional distress. It seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

Family members stated that a death-penalty verdict would be “perfect for this kind of human being.” The civil case remains separate from the criminal proceedings.

Next steps for the case

The D4vd Update that matters now is the shift from plea to preparation. With not-guilty pleas entered, the focus turns to discovery disputes and possible venue motions.

Both sides have signaled they will litigate the scope of admissible evidence. The October status conference will set the schedule for those hearings.

Until a trial date is set, the case remains in a holding pattern familiar to high-profile Los Angeles prosecutions. The next public development will likely come from the October hearing or a filed motion.