In brief
Los Angeles County Judge Charlaine Olmedo approved a preliminary hearing to bring 21‑year‑old singer D4vd to trial over the death of 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The five‑day hearing presented graphic photographs of a dismembered corpse, text messages that hinted at abuse, and evidence of tools ordered by Burke in the days following the murder. Prosecutors accuse Burke of stabbing, dismembering, and sexually abusing the girl, claiming motive was to silence her threat of exposing his relationship with a minor and destroy his burgeoning music career. Burke pleaded not guilty and his defence argued insufficient evidence, citing lack of surveillance video and DNA testing on alleged murder weapons. The trial is scheduled to begin within 90 days of the 31 August charge filing, and the case remains a stark reminder of the intersection between celebrity and criminal law.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo has ruled that a 21‑year‑old U.S. singer, known onstage as D4vd, will go on trial for the murder of a 14‑year‑old girl, Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
During a five‑day preliminary hearing, prosecutors presented graphic photographs of the girl’s dismembered body, text‑message evidence showing a history of abuse, and proof that Burke ordered chainsaws and other tools after the murder. The defense argued a lack of surveillance footage and insufficient forensic testing signaled that the evidence was inconclusive. Burke pleaded not guilty to murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
The prosecution claims Burke stabbed the teenager, dismembered her, and threatened to destroy his music career to silence her. They cite a series of threatening texts from the girl dated April 22–23, 2025, in which they threatened to “kill” Burke and “end his career.” The judge found that the evidence met the threshold for a murder charge with special circumstances, including lying in wait and eliminating a witness.
Burke’s attorneys contended the girl’s parents had given written consent for her to travel with the singer and had been aware of the original arrangement. They also highlighted the inconclusive DNA testing of chainsaws found in Burke’s garage, which were not tested for blood, arguing this called the handling of evidence into question.
A Los Angeles police detective testified that Burke ordered a body bag, chainsaws, an inflatable pool and a shovel online immediately after the murder, suggesting premeditation. The defense noted that a Makita chainsaw used in the dismemberment had not been recovered by investigators, putting a question mark over the chain‑saw evidence.
The prosecutor’s office stated they presented only a fraction of the evidence against Burke, promising to disclose the full case at trial. They also indicated they had not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.
To hear the full courtroom narrative, listen to BBC’s Fame Under Fire podcast.
