Singer D4vd Faces Preliminary Hearing in Minor's Murder and Sexual Abuse Case

Singer-songwriter D4vd is set to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday as prosecutors aim to prove sufficient evidence exists for him to stand trial for the murder and sexual abuse of a minor, Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

The preliminary hearing is expected to conclude on Thursday. The proceeding follows several delays in the case, in part due to the voluminous amount of investigatory evidence.

Los Angeles county prosecutors accuse the musician, born David Anthony Burke, of stabbing Hernandez to death at his Los Angeles residence last April to silence her from divulging the sexual nature of their relationship as his career was burgeoning, according to court documents.

Prosecutors say they began a sexual relationship in November 2023, when Burke was 18 and Hernandez was 13.

Burke allegedly mutilated her deceased body, sawing her limbs with a chainsaw and amputating her ring finger, which had a tattoo of his name, before discarding her dismembered limbs in a Tesla, per court documents.

In September 2025, Los Angeles police found Hernandez’s decomposed remains in a Tesla impounded at a Hollywood tow yard. The yard’s manager alerted law enforcement after noticing a pungent odor coming from the vehicle and the presence of flies, according to prosecutors.

Burke, now 21, was arrested in April and has been held in custody since then without bail. If convicted of murder, he may face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

At the time of his arrest, his defense team said he “was not the cause” of Hernandez’s death. Burke has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

In an April brief, prosecutors previewed the evidence they intend to show the court. Text messages between Burke and Hernandez may be exhibited, including correspondence demonstrating their alleged sexual relations and the girl threatening to expose him.

The state also said it planned to present surveillance video of Burke last driving the Tesla in July 2025, his purchases of a body bag and two chainsaws, and forensic evidence linking blood stains in his garage to Hernandez’s genetic profile.

Burke rose to popularity with a slew of viral TikTok singles. Last July, he kicked off an international tour in support of his debut album Withered. The tour was nixed in September after Hernandez’s body was found in the car registered to his name. Several of Burke’s former collaborators have since distanced themselves from the singer.

In April, after his arrest was announced, Celeste’s family released a statement eulogizing her.

“Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together,” they wrote. “We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste.”