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Judge to Decide Probable Cause in D4vd Murder Case
On Tuesday, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge will decide whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to bring singer‑songwriter D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, to trial for the killing of 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The preliminary hearing, slated for July 21, will run for roughly four days and marks the first public opportunity for the court to examine the evidence against Burke.
The proceeding is a probable‑cause hearing. Judge Charlaine Olmedo will determine whether the prosecution has established the threshold needed to support charges that include first‑degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. If probable cause is found, the case will advance to a full trial; if not, the charges may be dismissed.
Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026, after police discovered the dismembered body of Rivas Hernandez in the front trunk of a Tesla Model X registered to him. The victim, who vanished from Lake Elsinore, California, at age 14, was identified after her remains were recovered in September 2025. Prosecutors allege that Burke brought Rivas Hernandez to his Hollywood Hills rental on April 23, 2025, stabbed her multiple times, and dismembered her body in his garage with chainsaws. They also claim he drove the body in the trunk of his car for months before it was found.
A memorandum filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office cites evidence that Burke first met Rivas Hernandez when she was 11, began sexually abusing her at 13, and killed her after she threatened to report him. The document references text messages, photographs, a record of a car pickup arranged for the night of her disappearance, and surveillance footage that shows Burke as the last person to drive the Tesla.
Burke’s defense attorney, Blair Berk, maintains that Burke is not responsible for Rivas Hernandez’s death. The defense has not released a public account of the events, and the court has not yet heard witness testimony. The preliminary hearing will feature limited testimony, primarily from police and investigators, as is customary in California probable‑cause proceedings.
The 21‑year‑old has been held without bail in a jail near the courthouse since his arrest. He will appear in court in his jail clothes; a request to wear a suit, normally allowed at a jury trial, was denied by the judge. Cameras are prohibited in the courtroom.
The case has attracted attention beyond the legal sphere because of Burke’s music career. He first gained popularity on YouTube in 2021 with Fortnite gameplay montages and later achieved commercial success with 2022 singles “Romantic Homicide” and “Here with Me.” In 2023 he released two EPs, and in 2025 he issued his debut studio album, Withered, which peaked at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200. After the body was found, Burke’s ongoing tour and a planned deluxe reissue of the album were canceled.
The preliminary hearing serves as a pivotal step in the criminal process. Similar to a grand jury proceeding, prosecutors present only the evidence they believe is necessary to establish probable cause. The defense can use the hearing to identify weaknesses in witness testimony or evidence that may be challenged at trial.
At this time, the court has not issued a decision on whether the evidence meets the probable‑cause standard. The outcome will determine whether the case proceeds to a full trial, where a jury will decide Burke’s guilt or innocence.
The proceedings underscore the intersection of the entertainment industry and the criminal justice system, as a high‑profile artist faces serious allegations that could have lasting implications for his career and for public perceptions of celebrity accountability.
The case remains active, with the next court date scheduled for the end of July. No further developments have been reported beyond the preliminary hearing.
The proceeding is a probable‑cause hearing. Judge Charlaine Olmedo will determine whether the prosecution has established the threshold needed to support charges that include first‑degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. If probable cause is found, the case will advance to a full trial; if not, the charges may be dismissed.
Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026, after police discovered the dismembered body of Rivas Hernandez in the front trunk of a Tesla Model X registered to him. The victim, who vanished from Lake Elsinore, California, at age 14, was identified after her remains were recovered in September 2025. Prosecutors allege that Burke brought Rivas Hernandez to his Hollywood Hills rental on April 23, 2025, stabbed her multiple times, and dismembered her body in his garage with chainsaws. They also claim he drove the body in the trunk of his car for months before it was found.
A memorandum filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office cites evidence that Burke first met Rivas Hernandez when she was 11, began sexually abusing her at 13, and killed her after she threatened to report him. The document references text messages, photographs, a record of a car pickup arranged for the night of her disappearance, and surveillance footage that shows Burke as the last person to drive the Tesla.
Burke’s defense attorney, Blair Berk, maintains that Burke is not responsible for Rivas Hernandez’s death. The defense has not released a public account of the events, and the court has not yet heard witness testimony. The preliminary hearing will feature limited testimony, primarily from police and investigators, as is customary in California probable‑cause proceedings.
The 21‑year‑old has been held without bail in a jail near the courthouse since his arrest. He will appear in court in his jail clothes; a request to wear a suit, normally allowed at a jury trial, was denied by the judge. Cameras are prohibited in the courtroom.
The case has attracted attention beyond the legal sphere because of Burke’s music career. He first gained popularity on YouTube in 2021 with Fortnite gameplay montages and later achieved commercial success with 2022 singles “Romantic Homicide” and “Here with Me.” In 2023 he released two EPs, and in 2025 he issued his debut studio album, Withered, which peaked at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200. After the body was found, Burke’s ongoing tour and a planned deluxe reissue of the album were canceled.
The preliminary hearing serves as a pivotal step in the criminal process. Similar to a grand jury proceeding, prosecutors present only the evidence they believe is necessary to establish probable cause. The defense can use the hearing to identify weaknesses in witness testimony or evidence that may be challenged at trial.
At this time, the court has not issued a decision on whether the evidence meets the probable‑cause standard. The outcome will determine whether the case proceeds to a full trial, where a jury will decide Burke’s guilt or innocence.
The proceedings underscore the intersection of the entertainment industry and the criminal justice system, as a high‑profile artist faces serious allegations that could have lasting implications for his career and for public perceptions of celebrity accountability.
The case remains active, with the next court date scheduled for the end of July. No further developments have been reported beyond the preliminary hearing.