The D4vd murder case took a dramatic turn Monday as the 21-year-old singer pleaded not guilty to killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The alt-pop star, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, entered the plea on multiple charges, including first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains.
Prosecutors allege the relationship between Burke and the teen began in the fall of 2023, when she was just 13. The criminal complaint accuses him of continuous sexual abuse spanning approximately one year.
The first-degree murder charge carries three special circumstances: lying in wait, committing murder for financial gain, and killing a witness to a crime. The “financial gain” allegation stems from prosecutors’ claim that Celeste threatened to expose Burke’s conduct and derail his rising music career.
Celeste was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, entering Burke’s Hollywood Hills home. She was never heard from again. On September 8, 2025, one day after what would have been her 15th birthday, her dismembered and severely decomposed remains were discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke. The car had been abandoned on a street and towed to an impound lot, where an employee reported a foul odor.
Burke’s defense team, led by attorney Blair Berk, requested a preliminary hearing within 10 days, signaling they want to force prosecutors to present evidence publicly after months of secret grand jury proceedings. “The actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez,” Berk told the court.
If convicted on all counts, Burke faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty. A decision on seeking capital punishment will come later. The case continues to unfold as both sides prepare for what promises to be a lengthy legal battle.
