A preliminary hearing in the murder case of 14-year-old laprensagrafica.com Hernandez revealed that singer D4vd, 21, allegedly killed her after she threatened to expose their relationship, then dismembered her body using chain saws and disposed of the remains in his Tesla, according to multiple sources.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court heard testimony this week that David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, ordered items like body bags, chain saws, and inflatable pools online under the alias Trayvion Davis, but used his own credit cards and delivered them to his Hollywood home, according to a detective’s testimony. The 14-year-old Salvadoran girl’s decomposed body was found in the trunk of Burke’s Tesla in September 2025, with her arms and legs severed and stored in separate bags, as prosecutors presented graphic photos of the remains.
Evidence of Pre-Meditated Murder and Disposal
Knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened, very soon after her arrival at his home, defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out,
a court filing stated. Byers also confirmed that the body found in the Tesla was so decomposed that no, there was a quite a bit of decomposition to where skin slippage…made it unrecognizable,
he said, adding that maggots and fly stages were present in the trunk.
The prosecution argued that Burke used the alias Trayvion Davis to buy the items but delivered them to his Hollywood address, a detail confirmed by the Los Angeles Prensa Grafica. We believe we will more than accomplish the evidentiary burden of probable cause at this point to hold David to answer on these three felony charges,
said Los Angeles Chief Prosecutor Nathan Hochman, per the Malay Mail.
Victim’s Background and the Defendant’s Claims
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, had been reported missing multiple times since 2024, with prosecutors alleging she had been in a sexual relationship with Burke since she was 11. A former manager for D4vd testified that the singer earned up to $11.5 million between 2023 and 2025, according to the Los Angeles Times.
During a 2024 interaction with sheriff’s deputies, Burke claimed he believed the victim was 18, despite her actual age of 13, according to the Los Angeles Times. The victim’s mother had reported her missing after she disappeared following a trip to Texas, where she met Burke’s family. Investigators found that Burke had transported her from Lake Elsinore, California, to his Hollywood home on April 23, 2025, just days before her body was discovered.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The preliminary hearing, which will last three to five days, will determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Judge Charlaine Olmedo will assess whether prosecutors met the probable cause standard. If convicted, Burke faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty, though Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet indicated whether the death penalty will be sought.
The defense has not yet presented its case, but Burke’s attorney, Blair Berk, has previously argued that her client is not responsible for the girl’s death.
