Los Angeles Murder Trial of Singer D4vd Begins

Musician David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, is facing a high‑stakes criminal case in Los Angeles after a judge found sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. He is charged with first‑degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors allege Burke killed 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in his Hollywood Hills home in April 2025 and later placed her dismembered remains in the trunk of an impounded Tesla, where they were discovered in September 2025.

A five‑day preliminary hearing in July 2026 set the stage for an arraignment scheduled for August 31. Defense attorney Mark Geragos, noted for representing high‑profile clients, told a podcast that the case may hinge on whether the evidence proves homicide rather than merely dismemberment. He highlighted tentative language from the medical examiner and suggested a strategy similar to the Robert Durst case, arguing that Burke could have concealed and mutilated the body without being responsible for the death. The trial carries the possibility of a death‑penalty sentence if the jury convicts on the murder charge.