Singer D4vd charged with murder in slaying of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
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David Anthony Burke — the 21-year-old music star better known as D4vd — repeatedly sexually abused a teenage girl before murdering her and dismembering her body in order to protect his ascendant music career, prosecutors alleged Monday.Burke was charged with murder, repeated sexual abuse of a minor and mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, according to a criminal complaint made public late Monday morning.Dist.
Atty.Nathan Hochman said “the brutal and horrific murder” happened last April, when Celeste was last seen entering Burke’s Hollywood Hills home.
After that, Hochman said, she was “not heard from again.” “A parent’s nightmare is a situation where your daughter goes out one night and never comes back,” he said.D4vd has been linked to the girl’s death for months, since reports surfaced that Celeste’s badly decomposed body was found in the trunk of a Tesla that belonged to the singer at a Hollywood tow yard.
According to the complaint filed Monday, Burke killed Celeste on April 23, 2025, then mutilated her corpse about two weeks later in early May.Burke has denied all wrongdoing through his attorneys.
“Let us be clear — the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death,” his legal team of Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said in a statement.Burke wore a black shirt during his arraignment and stood silent with his hands behind his back.
His legal team entered a plea of not guilty and Berk demanded a preliminary hearing take place within 10 days, which is required by law.He is being held without bail.Hochman said there is “physical, forensic and digital” evidence tying the singer to the crime.
In court, Deputy Dist.Atty.
Beth Silverman said prosecutors have amassed “40 terabytes”...