Prosecutors presented DNA evidence, surveillance footage, and text messages during the preliminary hearing for David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, in Los Angeles. Burke faces first-degree murder charges in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez following his April arrest.
The preliminary hearing opened in Los Angeles, bringing prosecutors forward with a substantial avalanche of evidence to demonstrate sufficient cause for a murder trial. The proceedings follow months of delay after the artist was arrested in April and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, according to court documents reviewed by entertainment outlets.
Evidence Presented in Court by Prosecutors
Burke, whose legal name is David Burke and who performs under the stage name D4vd, faces additional counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. During the ongoing multi-day hearing before Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo, state attorneys detailed an extensive list of exhibits. Prosecutors introduced DNA traces, surveillance footage, chat logs, and telephone records to establish a timeline of the relationship between the singer and the teenager.
According to court filings outlined in the proceedings, investigators recovered digital communications documenting their association. Prosecutors asserted that the relationship began in 2022 when Celeste was 13 years old, involving months spent at his residence in the Hollywood Hills alongside regional travel. The documents referenced online purchases made following the alleged incident date, including shovels, chainsaws, body bags, heavy-duty sacks, and an inflatable pool.
Case Details and Alleged Timeline
State attorneys detailed graphic accusations in court documents, alleging that Celeste threatened to expose their relationship and disrupt his music career. Investigators claim Burke invited her to his Hollywood Hills home, where she was killed, and that her body was subsequently dismembered using a chainsaw purchased online, with the remains placed inside two body bags housed in the front trunk of a Tesla.
Celeste was officially reported missing in April of this year, several months after the reported end of the relationship. Her body was discovered seven months prior to his arrest inside his vehicle after it was towed to a Hollywood impound lot.
Defense Position and Career Impact
Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody. Represented by defense counsel Marilyn Bednarski, the defense team has the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses called by the prosecution during the current hearings. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek the death penalty.
The legal proceedings have coincided with a complete halt to the musician’s professional activities. Following house searches and the cancellation of scheduled tours, associates and former acquaintances, including Aysia Collins and Neo Langston, have publicly distanced themselves from the artist.
Judicial Review and Next Steps
Judge Olmedo will evaluate the testimony and physical exhibits presented throughout the week to determine if the state has met the threshold to advance the matter to a full jury trial. The preliminary hearings continue in Los Angeles County court.