Los Angeles, en.SERU.co.id — Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled on Monday, July 27, 2026, that indie-pop singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, must stand trial. He faces charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of the remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The judge found that prosecutors had presented enough evidence to establish probable cause. The decision came after five days of graphic testimony, crime-scene photos, and forensic details that left little doubt the case would advance.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, remains in custody without bail. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. A post-preliminary hearing arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 31, with the trial expected to begin several months later.
Prosecutors Outline the Alleged Crime
Prosecutors allege that on April 23, 2025, Burke arranged an Uber to bring Celeste to the Hollywood Hills home he was renting. Within roughly 20 minutes of her arrival, they say, he stabbed her to death. Her badly decomposed and dismembered remains were discovered five months later in the front trunk of his Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard.
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Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has argued that Burke killed the girl to protect his rising music career after she threatened to expose their relationship. “We believe the evidence at trial will be overwhelming,” Hochman said following the ruling.
An attorney for Celeste’s family, Patrick Steinfeld, called the decision a relief.
“The family appreciates the hard work by the district attorney’s office and the LAPD. They simply want justice for Celeste,” he said.
Defense attorneys maintain that Burke is innocent and have challenged the strength of the largely circumstantial case. The judge rejected those arguments, clearing the way for a jury to ultimately decide.
The case has drawn intense public attention since the discovery of Celeste’s remains last September. What began as a missing-person investigation involving a rising TikTok-turned-major-label artist has evolved into a high-stakes murder prosecution with the potential for a death penalty sentence still under consideration by prosecutors.
For now, the next formal step is the August 31 arraignment. Until then, D4vd remains behind bars as both sides prepare for what is expected to be a closely watched trial.
