D4vd Pleads Not Guilty to Murder and Related Charges in Case Involving 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
The criminal case against singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, has formally entered the court system, with the artist pleading not guilty to multiple felony charges tied to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Burke appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on April 20, where prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office outlined a series of charges, including murder, sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. At the conclusion of the hearing, the presiding judge ordered that Burke be held without bail.
The not guilty plea was entered by Burke’s attorney, Blair Berk, who reiterated the defense’s position that her client did not commit the crimes alleged. “We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez,” Berk told the court, adding that the defense is seeking a preliminary evidentiary hearing as soon as possible. Lead prosecutor Beth Silverman responded by indicating the state is prepared to present its case, stating, “We’ll be very happy to put on the evidence that we’ve collected.”
The charges carry additional weight due to special circumstance allegations attached to the murder count, as detailed by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. These include claims of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. Hochman further stated that, before her death, Rivas Hernandez had been identified as a witness in an investigation involving Burke related to alleged lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14.
The case stems from the discovery of Rivas Hernandez’s remains seven months ago. Authorities found her dismembered and decomposing body in the front trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to Burke. The condition of the remains and the circumstances of the discovery prompted a prolonged investigation, during which officials released limited information to the public.
During that period, independent online investigators and tabloid outlets reported potential connections between Burke and the victim. Among the details circulated were images placing Burke in Lake Elsinore, California, the area where Rivas Hernandez lived before she was reported missing in 2024, as well as photographs suggesting both individuals had a similar “Shhh…” tattoo on a finger. These findings were not formally addressed in court during the initial hearing.
Following his arrest, Burke’s legal team issued a public statement maintaining his innocence and asserting that the evidence would ultimately exonerate him. “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,” the statement read.
If convicted on all charges, Burke faces the possibility of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors have also indicated that the death penalty remains under consideration, though a final determination on whether it will be pursued has not yet been made.
