Crime committed by D4vd: The story that has American showbiz on edge

A Los Angeles judge has ruled that the case against American singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, can proceed to trial. Prosecutors argue that there is sufficient evidence for a jury to decide the case regarding the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposing body was found in September 2025 in the trunk of a Tesla linked to Burke.

According to prosecutors, there was a long-standing and inappropriate relationship between the artist and the girl. During the hearing, they cited text messages that allegedly prove Celeste Rivas Hernandez threatened to make their relationship public and to “destroy” David Anthony Burke’s career. According to U.S. media reports, there was also mention of an Uber ride that Burke had arranged for her on April 23, 2025—the day, prosecutors say, she went to his home in Hollywood. The young woman was also forced to undergo an abortion after becoming pregnant as a result of this abuse.

Prosecutors allege that Burke then killed her, dismembered her body, and hid it in his garage or in his car. An investigator stated that DNA traces found at various locations in and around his home matched Hernandez’s DNA, while photos and messages were discovered on his phone that, according to prosecutors, corroborate the alleged abuse. The defense disputes this interpretation and maintains that Burke is innocent.

Due to the advanced state of decomposition, the autopsy was unable to determine the exact time of death, but according to the medical examiner, Hernandez had been dead for at least several weeks when she was found. Her body was in such a state of decomposition that it was not possible to determine all the details of her death. She is believed to have been cut into pieces with a chainsaw.

World tour canceled

Burke was arrested in April and has since been held without the possibility of bail. He faces charges including murder, sexual abuse of a minor, and desecration of human remains; his world tour was canceled following his arrest.