Singer-songwriter D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Prosecutors are aiming to prove there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial for the murder and sexual abuse of minor Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

According to Los Angeles county prosecutors, Burke allegedly stabbed Hernandez to death at his residence in April 2025 to prevent her from revealing the sexual nature of their relationship, which reportedly began in November 2023 when Burke was 18 and Hernandez was 13. Prosecutors further allege that Burke mutilated Hernandez’s body, using a chainsaw to saw off her limbs and amputating her ring finger, which bore a tattoo of his name, before discarding the dismembered remains in a Tesla.

In September 2025, police discovered Hernandez’s decomposed remains inside the Tesla, which had been impounded at a Hollywood tow yard. The yard’s manager alerted law enforcement after detecting a strong odor and the presence of flies emanating from the vehicle.

Burke, now 21, was arrested in April 2026 and has been held without bail since. The state plans to present surveillance footage of Burke driving the Tesla in July 2025, records of his purchases of a body bag and two chainsaws, and forensic evidence linking blood stains found in his garage to Hernandez’s genetic profile.

The preliminary hearing is expected to conclude on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Following Burke’s arrest announcement in April, Hernandez’s family released a statement eulogizing her.

Sources