A Los Angeles judge ruled Monday that 21-year-old singer D4vd, born David Burke, will face trial for murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in his Tesla in September 2025. The decision followed a five-day preliminary hearing where prosecutors presented text messages, autopsy photos, and evidence of sexual abuse.
The ruling, announced after a hearing that drew tears and gasps from the courtroom, marks a critical step in the 10-month investigation into the killing of Hernandez, whose body was discovered in the trunk of Burke’s Tesla in the Hollywood Hills.
The Judge’s Ruling and Charges
Olmedo’s decision came after prosecutors argued that the evidence against Burke was “overwhelming,” including text messages between him and Hernandez, who had threatened to expose their relationship days before her death. Based on the mountains of evidence presented,
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said, all of the allegations have been proved way beyond the standard required.
Hernandez’s final text to Burke, sent the night before her death, read: i will end ur career and ur life.
Prosecutors alleged that Burke stabbed her to death when she arrived at his Hollywood home, where he had met her when she was 11 and begun sexually abusing her at 13. The case also involves claims that Burke ordered chainsaws and other tools to dismember her body, which was later found in his vehicle.
Defense Arguments and Prosecution’s Case
Burke’s defense, led by attorney Marilyn Bednarski, argued that the evidence did not prove deliberate intent to kill.
However, prosecutors countered that the opposite of homicidal malice
described by the defense contradicted the evidence of a calculated crime.
Prosecutors also highlighted that Burke had a significant amount of child pornography
on his devices, as revealed by search warrants. They alleged he had met Hernandez when she was 11, abused her for years, and even facilitated an abortion when she became pregnant.
The Victim’s Final Hours
Prosecutors detailed Hernandez’s final night, describing how she arrived at Burke’s home in an Uber he had arranged. She sent a text: girly pop i’m almost there open ur door if ur home.
They alleged Burke stabbed her upon her arrival. The night before, the pair had exchanged heated messages about his relationship with another woman, with Hernandez threatening to end ur career and ur life.
Hernandez’s body was found in September 2025, days before her 15th birthday. The case has drawn international attention, with the singer’s rise to fame via his 2022 viral hit Romantic Homicide
adding to the scrutiny.
Next Steps and Legal Implications
Olmedo ordered Burke to remain in custody without bail. An arraignment is scheduled for August 31, with a trial potentially beginning within 60 days. The prosecution is considering seeking the death penalty, as the judge found probable cause for lying in wait, killing for financial gain, and killing a potential witness.
Burke, who has pleaded not guilty, faces life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted. His legal team has not commented publicly on the case, though they previously sought a preliminary hearing to challenge the evidence.
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