D4vd Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
D4vd murder trial plea
The prominent alt-pop singer David Anthony Burke, widely known by his stage name D4vd, formally entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment on Monday, April 20, 2026. Appearing in a Los Angeles courtroom, the 21-year-old artist faced multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, the continuous sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 14, and the unlawful mutilation of human remains.
The proceedings follow a high-profile investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered in an impounded vehicle last year. Judge Shellie Samuels ordered that Burke remain held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility pending further evidentiary hearings. Detailed coverage of the court appearance and official legal filings are being monitored by the Associated Press and other major news outlets.
The prosecution, led by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, has presented a grim timeline involving the disappearance and subsequent death of the young victim. According to District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Rivas Hernandez was last seen alive in April 2025 entering Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence. Her dismembered and decomposed remains were eventually located on September 8, 2025, inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the singer, which had been abandoned and towed five days prior.
Prosecutors allege that the motive for the killing was rooted in a desire to protect Burke’s burgeoning music career, as the victim was reportedly a witness in a separate investigation regarding sexual misconduct allegations against the artist. Further information regarding the ongoing investigation and the District Attorney’s statements can be found on the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office website.
The defense team for the singer, led by prominent attorney Blair Berk, has vehemently denied all allegations and maintains that the evidence will ultimately exonerate their client. In a statement released following the hearing, the defense emphasized that David Burke did not cause the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and cautioned against a rush to judgment based on the sensational nature of the charges.
The current criminal complaint includes several special circumstance allegations, such as lying in wait and murder for financial gain, which make Burke eligible for life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty if convicted. While the District Attorney’s office has not yet decided whether to seek capital punishment, legal analysts suggest the case will be one of the most significant celebrity trials in recent history. Readers can track updates on the artist’s career and the impact of the case via Rolling Stone for continued industry analysis.
