A Los Angeles judge has ordered that pop star D4VD (real name David Anthony Burke) will stand trial on murder charges for the death of 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The decision follows a five‑day preliminary hearing in which prosecutors interrogated witnesses and displayed graphic photographs of the girl’s remains, which were recovered last September in a Tesla that was registered to Burke’s Los Angeles address.
Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty to the murders and sexual abuse charges. Prosecutors allege he stabbed and then dismembered the teen after a history of sexual abuse that reportedly began when he was 18. They argue he acted to silence Hernandez, who threatened to expose the relationship with a minor and destroy his music career.
The judge found the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing met the threshold for a trial, ruling that probable cause existed. Burke will be formally charged on August 31, and a trial is scheduled to start within 90 days of that date.
Key evidence includes text messages from April 22‑23, 2025, in which Hernandez explicitly threatened to “kill” Burke, and forensic findings that Burke ordered chainsaws and a shovel online after the murder. A homicide detective testified that Burke received a body bag, chainsaws, an inflatable pool, and a shovel, suggesting he prepared to dispose of the body. However, the defense highlighted that the chainsaws found in his garage tested negative for blood, leading to questions over the conclusiveness of the evidence.
The case, already infused with notoriety for its celebrity defendant, remains a focal point of public interest and a stark reminder of the legal ramifications of childhood abuse. Prosecutorial offices have stated they will present the full evidence in the upcoming trial and are still deciding whether they will seek the death penalty against Burke.
For the latest updates, RTWnews will continue to monitor court filings, witness statements, and corroborating evidence as the trial approaches. Stay tuned for live coverage, real‑time community chat, and interactive timelines as the story unfolds.
