Following a harrowing five-day preliminary hearing in Los Angeles, a judge has ruled that prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for recording artist D4vd—legally named David Anthony Burke—to stand trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo delivered the ruling on Monday, July 27, binding the 20-year-old musician over for trial on charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
“It appears to me, for the purposes of preliminary hearing, the people have met their burden of proof on all charges,” Judge Olmedo declared from the bench. “I order that Mr. Burke be held to answer.”
Burke’s formal re-arraignment has been scheduled for August 31.
The Prosecution’s Argument: Grooming and Premeditation
During closing arguments, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman outlined a horrifying narrative of systemic grooming, psychological manipulation, and ultimate violence. Prosecutors contend that Burke killed Rivas after she threatened to expose his illegal sexual relationship with her.
“We have a minor who was sexually abused for many, many months. She was groomed. … She was being gaslit,” Silverman argued to the court. “The defendant was telling her over and over again that this was sex she asked for, and he just went along with her. This is very obvious grooming. We have a young victim who really doesn’t know what is in store for her.”
Silverman presented extensive text message archives detailing graphic sexual communications, birth control, and pregnancy concerns. She emphasized the psychological toll the adult artist inflicted on the young victim:
“We saw some of the devastating consequences of that on this young girl through her text messages revealing mental health issues caused by the way she was being used by someone who was an adult, telling her that he loved her,” Silverman stated. “She wanted to have a future, and yet she had enough maturity to indicate to this adult that she was clearly head over heels in love with that she wanted more for herself than hanging out and having sex.”
Addressing the physical evidence, prosecutors allege Burke dismembered the minor’s body in his garage using a chainsaw, placed her remains inside cadaver and laundry bags, and concealed them inside the front trunk (frunk) of his Tesla.
The Defense’s Position: Accidental Death and Alternative Theories
Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski pushed back aggressively, arguing that the state failed to establish premeditation or homicidal intent. Bednarski pointed out that Burke was actively participating in an online multiplayer virtual-reality game moments before Rivas arrived at his residence on the night of April 23, 2025.
“Dismemberment is post-mortem conduct. It says nothing about what caused the death, when, where or how,” Bednarski countered. “There is no evidence of a deliberate intention to kill. We cannot impute malice from concealment. What remains is suspicion of concealment of a death, which is not murder.”
Bednarski further highlighted testimony from the medical examiner, who noted under cross-examination that he could not definitively rule out whether Rivas’ two penetrating torso wounds occurred post-mortem, and acknowledged he had not interviewed Rivas’ family prior to ruling the death a homicide.
Defense attorney Blair Berk introduced a text message sent by Rivas to Burke on April 22, 2025—the day before her death—expressing jealousy over Burke attending the Coachella Music Festival with another woman, Aysia Collins:
“Oh my fucken god I swear to GOD I will kil u she was in my dam seat I will strangle u to fucken death bro I will tell my dad so many fucken lies about u dead ass I will end ur career and ur life I will damage anything,” Rivas wrote in the message read aloud in court.
Berk also pressed LAPD Detective Corey Farell on whether Rivas had expressed self-harm ideation in past communications.
“I had seen that before. I don’t know about multiple occasions though,” Detective Farell testified.
Victim’s Family Responds
Outside the courthouse, attorney Patrick Steinfeld, representing Rivas’ parents, expressed outrage at the defense team’s strategy to cast blame on the deceased minor.
“The family was horrified that the defense attorneys brought up evidence to put the blame on a 14-year-old child,” Steinfeld told reporters, calling the defense’s suicide and violence arguments “very disturbing.”
Steinfeld also flatly rejected claims that Burke was unaware of Rivas’ actual age during their relationship.
“David Anthony Burke has taken the position that Celeste said she was 18, that he didn’t know she was a child, but he knew because he was told in February of 2024 that Celeste was only 13 years old,” Steinfeld confirmed outside the courtroom.
Burke remains in custody as legal teams prepare for the upcoming trial proceedings on August 31.
