Prosecutors in Los Angeles allege that US singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to death after she threatened to expose their relationship and ruin his music career. According to court documents filed on Wednesday, prosecutors claim that Burke met Hernandez when she was just 11 years old and began sexually abusing her when she turned 13.
Key Takeaways
Prosecutors allege US singer D4vd stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to death after she threatened to expose their relationship and ruin his music career. The body was found decomposing in a Tesla registered to Burke last September. Prosecutors claim he purchased tools online, including chainsaws, an inflatable blue pool, a body bag, and a shovel under a fake name to dispose of her body.
- D4vd is charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances
- Prosecutors allege Burke met Hernandez when she was 11 and began sexually abusing her at age 13
- Defense attorneys maintain Burke's innocence and argue for sealing evidence details due to media coverage concerns
- Preliminary hearing delayed until late May due to extensive discovery in the case
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 9 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Disposal Tools | 1 Difference | Majority reports shovel, chainsaw, body bag; Fox and Sky mention burn cage | ▼ |
| Alleged Murder Weapon | Broad Agreement | Chainsaws used to dismember body | |
| Alleged Motive | Broad Agreement | Silence victim to protect music career | |
| Defendant's Plea | Broad Agreement | Pleaded not guilty to all charges |
Body Disposal Tools
▼Majority reports shovel, chainsaw, body bag; Fox and Sky mention burn cage
Alleged Murder Weapon
Broad AgreementChainsaws used to dismember body
Alleged Motive
Broad AgreementSilence victim to protect music career
Defendant's Plea
Broad AgreementPleaded not guilty to all charges
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found decomposing in the trunk of a Tesla registered to David Anthony Burke (D4vd) last September, nearly five months after her death. Prosecutors allege that Burke purchased tools online, including chainsaws, an inflatable blue pool, a body bag, and a shovel under a fake name to dispose of Hernandez's body. They also claim he used a 'burn cage' as part of his plan to incinerate evidence.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and mutilating a corpse. His defense attorneys have maintained that Burke is innocent and did not cause Hernandez's death. They argued in court on Wednesday for the sealing of the nine-page filing detailing the evidence against Burke, citing concerns about media coverage affecting his right to a fair trial.
The preliminary hearing has been delayed until late May due to the voluminous amount of discovery in the case. Judge Charlaine Olmedo agreed there was 'good cause' to delay the hearing a few weeks. Burke is also scheduled to appear for a status hearing on May 12.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 9 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.