D4vd update: Not guilty plea sets stage for every charge at trial

The not-guilty pleas entered by singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, have locked every charge filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office onto the trial calendar. The August 31, 2026 rearraignment confirmed that the 21-year-old defendant intends to contest all three counts plus the special-circumstance allegations, shifting the case from preliminary maneuvering to a full jury trial.

Case background in brief

Authorities recovered the remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez from the trunk of Burke’s Tesla in a Hollywood tow yard on September 8, 2025. Prosecutors allege the girl had been missing since the previous spring and that her body had been dismembered roughly two weeks after death.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed formal charges on April 20, 2026. Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026, and has remained in custody without bail since that date.

Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo ruled after a five-day preliminary hearing in July 2026 that probable cause existed on every count, clearing the way for trial.

Three counts on the table

Count 1 charges first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and murder of a witness to a criminal investigation. Prosecutors also allege personal use of a sharp instrument.

Count 2 alleges continuous sexual abuse and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, with the conduct said to have begun in the fall of 2023 when the victim was 13.

Count 3 charges unlawful mutilation of human remains, claiming the body was dismembered and stored in bags inside the Tesla.

Special circumstances explained

The special-circumstance allegations elevate the murder charge to potential life without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors say the victim threatened to expose the alleged relationship and damage Burke’s rising career.

DA Nathan Hochman has stated the office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty. That decision will be finalized before jury selection begins.

Defense attorneys maintain the evidence will show Burke “did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death.”

Counsel change and strategy

Burke’s original private counsel, including Blair Berk, withdrew from the case before the August rearraignment. He is now represented by the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, including attorney Walid Kandeel.

The switch to public defenders has prompted observers to watch for shifts in defense tactics and resource allocation ahead of trial.

Discovery in the case already exceeds 40 terabytes of digital evidence, including messages, location data, and forensic records.

Procedural timeline so far

The body was found in September 2025. A multi-agency investigation led to the April 2026 arrest and charging. The initial not-guilty plea was entered at the April 20, 2026 arraignment.

The five-day preliminary hearing concluded in July 2026 with Judge Olmedo binding the case over for trial. The August 31, 2026 rearraignment reaffirmed the not-guilty stance on every count.

A brief status conference on October 19, 2026 set the next hearing for January 11, 2027. Trial is expected to begin within 90 days of that date.

Evidence and allegations

Prosecutors have cited text messages in which the victim allegedly said she would “end ur career and ur life.” Those messages are expected to figure prominently at trial.

Investigators allege the relationship began when the victim was 13 and that she was invited to Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence on April 23, 2025, after which she was never heard from again.

The defense has not yet detailed its full evidentiary response, though it has signaled it will challenge both the cause of death and the identity of the perpetrator.

Media and public attention

Burke had gained mainstream attention through TikTok virality, a Fortnite anthem, and major-label releases before the case surfaced. National outlets have tracked every court appearance since the arrest.

Court TV and local stations have carried live coverage of the status hearings, underscoring the case’s visibility in the Los Angeles courts.

Public discussion has centered on the gravity of the charges and the procedural steps that will determine how quickly the case reaches a jury.

What the not-guilty plea means

The pleas require the prosecution to prove each element of every count beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. No plea negotiations have been reported since the August rearraignment.

The defense now has full access to discovery and can file pre-trial motions challenging evidence admissibility and jury selection procedures.

Because the special circumstances remain intact, any conviction on Count 1 would trigger a separate penalty phase if prosecutors pursue the death penalty.

Next court dates

The January 11, 2027 status conference will set the final pre-trial schedule. Attorneys expect motions on discovery disputes and evidentiary issues to be filed before that hearing.

Once a trial date is confirmed, jury selection could begin as early as February 2027, though the exact calendar remains subject to court availability and motion outcomes.

Observers will watch whether the prosecution files a formal death-penalty notice before the next hearing or reserves the decision until closer to trial.

Outlook for the case

The not-guilty pleas have removed any immediate resolution and placed the full slate of charges before a jury. Both sides now face an extended period of motion practice and evidence review before opening statements.

The outcome will hinge on how the prosecution presents its digital evidence and how the defense counters the special-circumstance allegations. The next twelve months of pre-trial litigation will determine the pace and scope of the eventual trial.