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Disturbing evidence, including graphic images, was presented to a Los Angeles judge during a Tuesday hearing in the closely watched murder case against singer D4vd, as prosecutors seek to convince the court to proceed to trial.
The artist, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a child and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
NewsNation reporter Brian Entin said in a video post on X that gruesome images of the dismembered body following the removal from the trunk have been shown during the hearing.
“Her family is in the courtroom, so you can imagine. I mean, they’ve been emotional looking at these pictures,” Entin said, adding, “Some of these details are hard to talk about, but they talk about two separate arms, two legs, a separate knee cap, all in the front trunk of the of the Tesla.”
D4vd’s legal team has repeatedly said he is innocent, sharing a statement with TMZ in April that read in part, “Let us be clear – the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death.”
Authorities allege Burke and Hernandez were involved in a relationship that began when he was 18, and she was 13. Prosecutors contend that Hernandez threatened to expose the relationship, providing a motive for the alleged killing.
After Hernandez’s parents reported her missing, detectives interviewed Burke, who told investigators he had met the teen only once and did not know she was underage, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also allege that after her parents confiscated her phone, Burke paid one of her classmates to provide her with another device so they could remain in contact.
The hearing is not being livestreamed because the judge has not permitted cameras inside the courtroom. As a result, the public is learning about the proceedings through reporters and legal observers who are attending the hearing in person and relaying details from inside the courtroom.
Who Is D4vd?
D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, is a 21-year-old singer and songwriter who rose to fame with viral hits including “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me.” The Texas-raised artist built a large following through TikTok and streaming platforms before launching an international music career.
He is now at the center of a high-profile Los Angeles murder case involving the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after being charged with first-degree murder and other offenses, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Who Was Celeste Rivas Hernandez?
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s disappearance in April 2025 sparked a monthslong investigation that ultimately led to D4vd’s arrest.
Prosecutors allege Hernandez, of Lake Elsinore, California, was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, when she traveled to Burke’s Hollywood Hills home. Her decomposed remains were discovered more than four months later, on September 8, 2025, inside the front trunk of a Tesla linked to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard.
D4vd Preliminary Hearing: Purpose Explained
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman described the preliminary hearing as an “intermediate step” during a press briefing Tuesday outside of court.
Unlike a trial, a preliminary hearing is not intended to determine whether a defendant is guilty or innocent. Instead, the judge’s role is to decide whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to establish probable cause that a crime was committed, Hochman explained, adding that if the judge finds that standard has been met, the case will move forward to a jury trial at a later date.
He said that the hearing will likely take 3 to 5 days and include testimony from about 10 individuals, including officers and the coroner.
Case Timeline
2023: Alleged Relationship Begins
According to prosecutors, Burke and Hernandez began a sexual relationship in 2023 when he was 18 years old, and she was 13. Court documents cited by prosecutors allege the relationship continued before deteriorating.
April 23, 2025: Last Known Sighting of Hernandez
Prosecutors allege Burke arranged for an Uber to bring Hernandez to his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025. They say this was the last time the teenager was seen alive. Court filings allege she was stabbed multiple times at the residence.
Days Following April 23, 2025
According to prosecutors, Burke purchased items allegedly used to dispose of Hernandez’s body, including chain saws, a body bag, heavy-duty bags and other supplies. Prosecutors further allege he attempted to conceal the crime and distance himself from the victim.
September 8, 2025: Celeste’s Body Discovered
Hernandez’s decomposed remains were discovered inside the front trunk of a Tesla linked to Burke after workers at a Los Angeles tow yard reported a foul odor and flies around the vehicle. Authorities later identified the remains as Hernandez.
November 2025-April 2026: Investigation Intensifies
Investigators spent months building their case after identifying Hernandez and tracing evidence connected to Burke. The investigation culminated in his arrest in April 2026.
April 2026: Arrest and Charges
Burke was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and other offenses. During his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors later filed a detailed brief outlining the allegations they planned to present during future court proceedings.
June-July 2026: Preliminary Hearing Scheduled
Following several status conferences, a judge set July 21, 2026, as the start date for the preliminary hearing. The hearing is expected to last between three and seven days, depending on the amount of evidence and testimony presented.
July 21, 2026: Evidence Presented in Court
The preliminary hearing opened Tuesday with Burke appearing in court in custody. Prosecutors began presenting evidence as they seek to establish probable cause for a trial.
The proceedings are expected to include witness testimony and detailed evidence that has not previously been aired in open court.
What the Evidence Shows
Jurors are not present at this stage of the proceedings, but the preliminary hearing has already revealed some of the most graphic evidence prosecutors are expected to rely on if the case moves to trial.
According to reporting from Los Angeles Magazine‘s Lauren Conlin, who was inside the courtroom, Burke appeared “calm and relaxed” throughout the proceedings. He was not wearing handcuffs but remained restrained with a waist chain. Conlin reported that as prosecutors displayed graphic crime-scene photographs, Burke “kept his eyes fixed on the courtroom monitors and did not appear to look away.”
One of the key witnesses was LAPD Robbery-Homicide Detective Joshua Byers, who testified that he responded to a Hollywood tow yard on September 8, 2025, after employees reported a strong odor coming from a black Tesla registered to Burke.
According to Byers, investigators obtained a search warrant and discovered a partially unzipped body bag containing dismembered human remains inside the vehicle’s front trunk.
The detective testified that authorities recovered “two separate arms, two legs” and a separate kneecap from the vehicle. He also described finding a left hand inside a black trash bag with two fingers severed.
The detective further testified that investigators observed a tattoo on one of Hernandez’s hands. When asked whether her face was visible when her body was removed from the vehicle, the detective responded that it was not.
“Could you see a face?” the detective was asked. “No,” he replied, explaining that there was significant decomposition and skin slippage, leaving the remains unrecognizable,” Entin explained.
Reporters inside the hearing described emotional scenes as Hernandez’s relatives viewed the images and listened to testimony about the condition of the body. At one point, a person was seen fanning Hernandez’s mother as the evidence was presented.
Prosecutors also highlighted evidence recovered from Burke’s Tesla and electronic devices, Entin said in a second post on X.
Testimony showed the Tesla was left parked in the Hollywood Hills before it was ticketed, impounded and towed on September 5, 2025. Detectives later recovered data from an iPhone 16 nicknamed “Tranquilizer,” though the device itself was never found, and investigators testified that it contained navigation searches for Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley, Entin reported.
The court also heard that Hernandez’s father contacted police after learning a body had been discovered in the Tesla, telling investigators he feared it was his daughter. Detectives later sought Hernandez’s dental records to assist with identification.
Prosecutors further presented evidence allegedly linking Burke to Hernandez, including airline reservations for trips to Texas and London and an Amazon purchase of what investigators described as a small “burn box” recovered during a search of his home, according to Entin.
The testimony is part of prosecutors’ effort to establish probable cause that Burke committed the crimes charged. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys have maintained that the evidence will ultimately show he did not kill Hernandez.
Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek the death penalty if Burke is ultimately convicted.
Byers testified that the remains included a torso, head and severed extremities. He also told the court that some limbs contained blue plastic or fiber fragments embedded in cut surfaces. According to Conlin’s account of the testimony, investigators found that Hernandez’s left ring finger and pinky finger had been amputated, along with a finger on her right hand that bore a tattoo reading “Shhh.”
The detective said the remains had undergone extensive decomposition, making identification difficult.
The hearing also included testimony from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Senior Deputy Juan Gonzalez, who conducted a welfare check at Burke’s home after Hernandez was reported missing. Gonzalez testified that Burke told investigators he met Hernandez through social media and believed she was an adult.
“She told me she’s 18, but everyone is saying she’s 13,” Burke said in body-camera footage shown in court, according to testimony recounted by Conlin.
Gonzalez testified that Burke told deputies he had only met Hernandez once in person and believed she was 18 years old. During cross-examination, defense attorney Regina Peter emphasized that Burke voluntarily spoke with investigators, provided Hernandez’s contact information and cooperated with the welfare check.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Sam Wilson.
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