Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, will stand trial on first-degree murder charges in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after a Los Angeles judge ruled Monday that prosecutors presented enough evidence to move the case forward.
Burke, 21, faces charges of first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The special circumstances — lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and killing a witness — make him eligible for life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty if convicted.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.
Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo found probable cause on all counts following a five-day preliminary hearing. Burke will remain held without bail. An arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 31, with a trial potentially beginning within 60 to 90 days after that date.
Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Rivas Hernandez to death on April 23, 2025, at his Hollywood Hills home after she threatened to expose their relationship and harm his music career. They say he arranged an Uber to bring her to the residence and killed her shortly after she arrived. According to the allegations, he later dismembered her body and placed the remains in the front trunk of his Tesla, where they were discovered in September 2025 at an impound lot.
The financial-gain allegation centers on claims that Burke acted to protect his career. Court testimony has referenced earnings of approximately $10 million to $11 million between 2023 and 2025. The witness special circumstance relates to the alleged sexual abuse, which prosecutors say began when Rivas Hernandez was 13.
Burke has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys have maintained that the evidence will show he did not cause Rivas Hernandez’s death.
D4vd rose to prominence with the 2022 viral hit “Romantic Homicide,” which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. His debut album arrived in April 2025, around the time prosecutors say the killing occurred. The case has halted his career momentum since his arrest in April.
