US musician D4vd must stand trial for murder of 14-year-old

At the heart of the case is the violent death of the 14-year-old girl Celeste Rivas Hernandez. According to the prosecution, the musician is alleged to have stabbed the girl and then dismembered the body with a chainsaw. Investigators had been alerted in the previous September to body parts in black bags inside a vehicle registered to Burke that had previously been reported as abandoned. Forensic experts testified that the remains were badly decomposed and had likely been in the vehicle for more than four months.

Background of the crime

At a hearing, the prosecution presented numerous damning details, including photographs of the badly decomposed body shown in the courtroom. A forensic medical expert commented on the stab wounds, and forensic specialists testified about DNA and blood traces. According to investigators, Burke ordered two chainsaws and other tools online under a false name and then dismembered the body. In addition to murder, Burke is therefore charged with repeated sexual abuse of a child and mutilation of a corpse.

According to the indictment, Burke entered into an "abusive sexual relationship" with the girl when she was only 13 years old. The day before her disappearance in April 2025, the two allegedly had an argument. The girl is said to have threatened to reveal things about Burke and destroy his career. The prosecution alleges that the 21-year-old then decided to "silence" her and killed his victim with knife wounds, according to prosecutors. If convicted, the charges carry life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Whether the prosecution will actually seek the death penalty has not yet been decided.

From TikTok star to defendant

D4vd had most recently been talked about at the beginning of the year as one of the rising pop stars in the United States. He gained international fame with the TikTok-viral songs "Romantic Homicide" and "Here with Me," which were streamed billions of times. In 2025, he also performed the anthem for the video game "Fortnite." The allegations that have now become public stand in stark contrast to this public image of a young, digitally socialized pop star.

The decision to bring the case to court follows a complex evidentiary presentation and a five-day preliminary hearing. Before the case was sent to trial, the prosecution, led by Hochman, the Los Angeles County District Attorney, had already made the charges against David Anthony Burke public. In addition to the main charge of first-degree murder of the 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the charges of repeated sexual abuse of a child and mutilation of a corpse are also on the table.

Legal consequences

A judge stated, according to the prosecution, that the evidence presented – including forensic traces, digital orders, and witness testimony – was sufficient to submit the case to a jury. Beyond the decision to send the case to trial, no specific trial date has yet been set. According to information from the proceedings, the musician is to appear in court again at the end of August. Until then, he remains in custody according to the current status.

The musician's defense had rejected the allegations in earlier hearings. At an earlier hearing, a defense attorney had argued that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to bring charges. That argument has now been overruled by the judge's decision. The burden of proof now lies with the prosecution, which must lay out the individual points before a jury at trial.

Investigations and forensic findings

The case first became public in September, when walkers and investigators found body parts in a rented vehicle in a Los Angeles residential neighborhood. The body was identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez through a match with missing persons reports and forensic procedures. The case sparked a broad debate in the United States and internationally about the responsibility of streaming services and the role of social media in the environment of young, female fans.

The investigative files indicate that Burke allegedly ordered the chainsaws and other tools online under a false name. Digital traces, order histories, and delivery addresses form a central building block of the prosecution's case. Forensic experts explained in the preliminary proceedings that the blood and tissue traces in the vehicle and on the tools were attributable to the victim. These findings, along with the forensic medical assessment of the stab wounds, form the core of the evidence.

Investigators assume, based on the available findings, that the body parts had been in the vehicle for more than four months at the time of discovery. This timeline plays a significant role in reconstructing the sequence of events. The location where the vehicle was found – a parking lot in a Los Angeles residential neighborhood – initially provided no direct indication of the registered owner; the link was established only through the license plate.

The case throws a spotlight on the approach of the US justice system in high-profile capital cases. Under US law, the prosecution in California can seek the death penalty for first-degree murder; it remains unclear whether they will make use of that option in this case. Even a conviction without the death penalty would result in a lengthy prison sentence given the severity of the charges.

Outlook on the trial

The proceedings are expected to occupy the coming months. Further witness testimony, forensic reports, and a possible statement from the defendant could be added before any verdict. According to the current status of the proceedings, the next hearing is scheduled for the end of August; a specific trial date has not yet been announced.

The victim's family has so far only commented cautiously through their attorneys. In a brief statement, they remembered the deceased as a student and friend, without addressing the details of the proceedings. Victim protection organizations are supporting the family and have pointed to the particular need for protection of minor witnesses.

The name Celeste Rivas Hernandez was repeatedly picked up in US media in the weeks after the discovery of the body parts. The case is emblematic of a series of violent crimes against teenagers that have caused a stir in the United States in recent years and sparked discussions about the protection of minors and digital safety.

Little is known about David Anthony Burke's personal circumstances beyond his public music career. Early reports portrayed him as a young artist living in Los Angeles who had built his career through TikTok and streaming platforms. That chapter of his life ended with his arrest, which fundamentally changed his life and the image fans had of him.

The prosecution announced that further witnesses would be summoned in the coming weeks. According to information from the proceedings, these include forensic experts, digital forensics specialists, and individuals from the personal circle of the defendant and the victim. The defense also announced that it would present its own experts.

Overall, the D4vd case remains one of the most sensational criminal trials opened in the United States this year. It merges the sphere of pop culture with that of a serious violent crime against a child and makes both the legal and the media dimensions of the case equally visible.