Singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, will stand trial for the murder and sexual abuse of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to proceed. The decision came following a five-day preliminary hearing that revealed disturbing details about Hernandez's death on April 23, 2025.
Key Takeaways
A Los Angeles judge ruled that singer D4vd must stand trial for the murder and sexual abuse of Celeste Rivas Hernandez after a five-day preliminary hearing revealed gruesome details about her death. Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Hernandez to death at his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, then dismembered her body with chainsaws before disposing of it in the trunk of his Tesla.
- Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled there was enough evidence for D4vd to stand trial after a five-day preliminary hearing
- Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Hernandez twice and used chainsaws to dismember her body, then disposed of remains in his Tesla's front trunk
- Text messages show the pair had an argument before Hernandez's death where she threatened to expose their relationship
- Defense questioned why certain items found at Burke’s home were not tested for DNA
⚖
▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 15 publishers report consistent facts across 4 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abortion Evidence | 1 Difference | Los Angeles Times and The Guardian say January 2024; CBS News says roughly a year before death. | ▼ |
| Judge Ruling | Broad Agreement | Judge rules D4vd must stand trial for murder, sexual abuse. | |
| Cause Of Death | Broad Agreement | Hernandez died from two stab wounds. | |
| Relationship Start Age | Broad Agreement | Relationship began when Hernandez was 11, Burke was 16. | |
| Chain Saws Testing | Broad Agreement | Chain saws found in Burke's garage tested negative for blood. |
Abortion Evidence
▼Los Angeles Times and The Guardian say January 2024; CBS News says roughly a year before death.
Judge Ruling
Broad AgreementJudge rules D4vd must stand trial for murder, sexual abuse.
Cause Of Death
Broad AgreementHernandez died from two stab wounds.
Relationship Start Age
Broad AgreementRelationship began when Hernandez was 11, Burke was 16.
Chain Saws Testing
Broad AgreementChain saws found in Burke's garage tested negative for blood.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
Prosecutors presented evidence alleging Burke stabbed Hernandez twice at his Hollywood Hills home before dismembering her body with chainsaws and disposing of the remains in the front trunk of his Tesla. The gruesome discovery was made months later at the Hollywood Tow Yard on September 8, 2025. Text messages introduced during the hearing showed an argument between Burke and Hernandez the night before her death, where she threatened to expose their relationship and ruin his career.
The defense focused on questioning law enforcement's handling of forensic evidence, particularly why certain items in Burke's garage—including chainsaws—were not tested for DNA. Defense attorney Blair Berk suggested another individual’s DNA could have been present since multiple people lived at the residence. The prosecution countered with testimony from LA County Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Grant Ho, who identified two fatal stab wounds on Hernandez's body and noted severe decomposition and dismemberment.
Additional evidence presented included Burke's financial records showing he earned millions of dollars and controlled assets worth over $10 million. Prosecutors also revealed that Burke had impregnated Hernandez when she was 13, leading to an abortion in January 2024. The defense argued that Burke was unaware of the day-to-day handling of his finances, which were managed by his mother and a member of his management team.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 15 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.