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d4vd has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The Monday, April 20, plea came quickly following the 21-year-old’s arrest without bail on Thursday, April 16.
Born David Burke, the Houston singer became nationally infamous after Rivas Hernandez’s remains were discovered on Sept. 8 in an abandoned Tesla registered in the singer’s name. At the time, Burke was in the middle of touring, and in fact performed that very night, though a few subsequent dates were ultimately canceled. He was quickly dropped by his label Interscope, and had his image scrubbed from brand campaigns and blogs alike.
Here’s a quick look at the trial.
Who is Celeste Rivas Hernandez?
Rivas Hernandez was a child runaway whose parents first reported the then-13-year-old girl missing in April 2024. Prosecutors allege she was groomed and sexually abused by D4vd for at least a year from September 2023 until September 2024.
When was Rivas Hernandez murdered?
Per the criminal complaint, authorities say Rivas Hernandez was murdered around April 23, 2025, at d4vd’s Hollywood Hills residence. This would have been roughly two weeks after d4vd made his debut at Coachella. d4vd is accused of killing the 14-year-old girl and later mutilating her body.
What has d4vd been charged with?
d4vd has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, the most serious charge that the Los Angeles District Attorney could have brought against him. There are additional charges for lewd acts with a child and dismembering Rivas Hernandez’s body.
Will d4vd face the death penalty?
Since the District Attorney has charged d4vd with special circumstances, the singer may face the death penalty if convicted, despite being charged in California. Those “special circumstances” include murdering a witness to a crime and murder for financial gain. Prosecutors allege d4vd murdered Rivas Hernandez to protect his ascendant music career.
What evidence is there against d4vd?
“Evidence will be the witness testimony, the documents, and different types of admissible testimony, in the prosecution and if it leads to the eventual trial, of Mr. Burke, to convince a jury of 12 people, beyond a reasonable doubt, that each and every one of these charges is true,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in part during a Monday evening press conference. “There is physical evidence, and there is forensic and digital evidence.”
Why did it take so long to arrest d4vd?
As mentioned above, Rivas Hernandez’s remains were discovered in an abandoned vehicle registered to D4vd back in September. So why did it take seven months for him to be arrested? At the presser, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the slower-moving investigation, and the lack of publicly available information, was a necessity, “to secure justice.”
Who is defending d4vd?
d4vd’s defense lawyers are Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter. Berk is an established celebrity defense attorney, perhaps best known for her work with Mel Gibson after his antisemitic outbursts and Lindsey Lohan after her DUI. When D4vd was arrested, the trio put out a statement saying in part, “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. There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed. David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
