D4vd Granted Delay in Murder Case as Judge Pushes Probable Cause Hearing to July

D4vd appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday, where a judge granted a request to postpone a key hearing in the criminal case accusing him of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

The singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, agreed to move his probable cause hearing from June 29 to July 21 after his defense team requested additional time to prepare. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo approved the continuance and scheduled a status conference for July 7.

Judge Olmedo said she found good cause to grant the delay after reviewing a sealed declaration submitted by defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski, who did not attend Wednesday’s proceedings. The probable cause hearing is expected to span several days and include testimony from multiple witnesses. At its conclusion, the court will determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence to move forward with a jury trial.

Burke, 21, was arrested on April 16 and formally charged a week later with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors have also filed special-circumstance allegations, including murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. Those allegations make Burke ineligible for bail.

The charges stem from the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered in Burke’s Tesla, several months after prosecutors say she was killed. In a court filing unsealed in April, prosecutors outlined a detailed theory of the case, alleging that surveillance footage captured Burke parking the vehicle near his Hollywood Hills rental home on July 29, 2025, before departing on a concert tour. According to prosecutors, the vehicle remained untouched for weeks before eventually being towed and impounded. Investigators later discovered Rivas’ remains inside the car on Sept. 8, 2025.

Authorities allege Burke met Rivas when she was 11 years old and later began a sexual relationship with her after she turned 13. Members of Rivas’ family reported her missing and raised concerns with local authorities that she had been communicating with Burke. Investigators claim that they informed the singer of her age after discovering his phone number in her records, but contend that despite that knowledge, contact between the two continued.

Court filings further allege that Burke arranged for a third party to provide Rivas with a secret cellphone so they could continue communicating without her family’s knowledge. Prosecutors cited recovered messages between the pair that referenced topics including sex, pregnancy, and abortion.

Tensions escalated in the days leading up to Rivas’ death. According to the prosecution's theory, the teenager threatened to reveal details of their relationship, creating concern that the accusations could damage Burke’s career. They claim the singer arranged transportation for Rivas from Lake Elsinore to his Los Angeles residence on July 28, 2025, and killed her shortly after she arrived.

The prosecution alleges Burke stabbed Rivas multiple times before later purchasing tools and supplies used to dispose of her remains. Court documents show that investigators recovered evidence linking the victim’s blood to Burke’s garage and uncovered records showing purchases of a shovel, chainsaws, a body bag, and an inflatable pool made under a false name.

Prosecutors also maintain that Burke attempted to conceal the crime in the weeks that followed, including by misleading friends, colleagues, and others who questioned unusual odors coming from the property and vehicle. Riva’s remains remained inside the Tesla for an extended period before being discovered by authorities, according to court filings.

If the judge determines that there is sufficient evidence to proceed, Burke would then face trial on charges that could carry a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges.