Prosecutors Present Gruesome Evidence Against Singer D4vd in Teen Murder Case

Indie pop singer D4vd sat silently through a day-long court hearing on Tuesday as prosecutors laid out graphic details of the murder case against the musician, who is accused of stabbing and dismembering his teenage girlfriend after she allegedly threatened to expose their relationship.

The 21-year-old performer, whose legal name is David Burke, was arrested in April and charged with first-degree murder, mutilation of a corpse and child sexual abuse. The case brought his rising music career with a major record label to a halt.

Burke has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry the possibility of the death penalty.

The singer first gained popularity as a viral TikTok artist with songs created for Fortnite gaming videos in 2022. His breakthrough single, Romantic Homicide, later led to a multimillion-dollar recording deal with Interscope Records.

His debut studio album was released in April 2025, the same week prosecutors allege that his 14-year-old girlfriend, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, went missing and was killed.

Tuesday marked the beginning of a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors must convince a judge that there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

At the start of the hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo noted that the victim’s parents were present in the packed courtroom.

Burke, dressed in an orange jail-issued jumpsuit and wearing black-rimmed glasses, smiled briefly at his lawyers before being seated and shackled to the defence table.

During the hearing, Burke appeared attentive, frequently resting his chin on one hand while watching witnesses testify and viewing crime-scene photographs displayed on a large courtroom screen.

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman presented images of three chain saws, a shovel and other items prosecutors allege Burke purchased online under a false name and had delivered to his Hollywood Hills home after the killing on April 23, 2025.

Among the items was a blue inflatable plastic swimming pool, which prosecutors said was used to contain blood while the victim’s body was dismembered inside the garage.

The defence team largely focused on cross-examining prosecution witnesses during the hearing but has previously maintained that Burke is innocent.

“We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez, nor was he the cause of her death,” defence lawyer Blair Berk said during his April 20 arraignment.

Two police detectives and Burke’s former financial manager testified on Tuesday, with their evidence covering the alleged motive and the circumstances surrounding the case.

Lead investigator Los Angeles Police Department Detective Joshua Byers told the court that the victim’s remains were discovered in a vehicle registered to Burke, which had been towed to a Hollywood impound lot in September 2025.

Police were called after workers detected a strong smell coming from the vehicle. Byers described it as a “very distinctive smell” associated with decomposing remains and familiar to homicide investigators.

The detective said the girl’s torso and head were found inside a black vinyl cadaver bag in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla sedan. A plastic garbage bag containing her severed limbs was discovered underneath it.

He also testified that the victim’s right index finger had a tattoo reading “SHHH...”, which matched a similar tattoo later found on Burke’s own right index finger.

Byers said small fragments of blue plastic, believed to have come from the inflatable pool where the body was allegedly dismembered, were found embedded in the remains.

According to the detective, the remains had been inside the Tesla since July 29, 2025, when Burke allegedly abandoned the vehicle near his home before leaving for a concert tour. The car was later towed to the impound lot.

More Witnesses Expected

Speaking outside the courthouse, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors expected to call more than 10 witnesses over the next three to five days before deciding whether to pursue the death penalty.

The charges include special circumstances that could make Burke eligible for capital punishment, including allegations that the killing was carried out for financial gain and to silence a witness.

Burke performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California last year, less than two weeks before prosecutors allege he killed his underage girlfriend over fears that she would expose their relationship and damage his career.

Prosecutors allege Burke’s sexual relationship with the girl began when she was 11. Investigators said they recovered text messages referring to sex, pregnancy, abortion and emergency contraception, along with sexually explicit images.

They claim Burke attempted to silence the teenager after she became jealous of him and threatened to reveal damaging details about their relationship.

Burke’s former financial manager, Benjamin Greger, testified that the singer had earned between $10 million and $11 million from 2023 to 2025, including around $3 million from an advance and initial payment linked to his Interscope Records deal.

 

For any enquiries or information, contact ask@tlr.ae or call us on +971 52 644 3004. Follow The Law Reporters on WhatsApp Channels.