American singer D4vd will stand trial for murder after a judge ruled there is sufficient evidence in the death of a 14-year-old girl.
Breakout American pop singer D4vd will stand trial on charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The ruling marks a critical turning point in a high-profile criminal case that sent shockwaves through the global music industry following the singer’s arrest earlier this year. After reviewing days of graphic testimony, crime scene evidence, and text message archives, the court determined that state prosecutors had presented sufficient legal grounds to move forward with a full criminal trial.
The landmark judicial decision took place inside a packed courtroom at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles, California. Following five consecutive days of preliminary testimony from homicide detectives, medical examiners, and forensic analysts, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo issued her formal ruling on Monday, July 27, 2026. The ruling establishes that 21-year-old David Anthony Burke, who performs professionally under the stage name D4vd, will remain held in custody without bail as attorneys prepare for the upcoming jury trial.
The case traces back to April 2025, when 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez went missing after traveling via ride-share service to Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence. Her remains were discovered nearly five months later, in September 2025, hidden inside the front trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to the musician. Forensic investigators testified during the hearing that DNA matching the victim was recovered from apparent bloodstains inside the home’s garage, leading authorities to allege that the victim was fatally stabbed before her body was dismembered and concealed inside the vehicle.
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State prosecutors contend that the primary motive behind the killing was Burke’s desperate attempt to suppress revelations about an illegal sexual relationship with a minor. Court records revealed that in the days leading up to her disappearance, the teenager had sent messages threatening to expose their relationship to his family and friends, which prosecutors argued threatened to crater his rapidly rising music career. Defense counsel countered during cross-examination that the communication records demonstrated volatile threats initiated by the victim, arguing that the physical evidence presented by the medical examiner remained too inconclusive to establish deliberate intent to commit murder. However, Judge Olmedo ruled that the prosecution had satisfied its legal burden, clearing the way for a jury to decide the verdict.
