d4vd (David Burke) — Celeste Rivas Hernandez

David Burke, the 21-year-old singer who records as d4vd, is charged in Los Angeles with murder, continuous lewd acts with a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found in his Tesla in 2025. He has been held without bail since April 2026 and has pleaded not guilty.

On July 27 a judge ordered him to stand trial after a preliminary hearing. Members of his family were reportedly subpoenaed to a grand jury. On August 31 his private defense team, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, was allowed to withdraw after the court found that Burke qualifies for appointed counsel, despite reported music earnings of at least ten million dollars between 2023 and 2025. Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel took over the case and asked to push back the arraignment. Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo refused, and Burke entered a fresh not-guilty plea to all three counts. Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty, for which the charges make him eligible.

The next date is a status conference on October 9 in Los Angeles Superior Court. No trial date has been set, and the change of counsel is likely to push the schedule out.

This case is filed under Harrowing for the loss of a child. That register describes what happened to Celeste Rivas Hernandez, not the man accused. Burke is presumed innocent; no verdict has been returned.