Judge Sends D4vd to Trial in 14-Year-Old's Murder as Texts Point to $19 Million Motive
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jul 27
Judge Sends D4vd to Trial in 14-Year-Old's Murder as Texts Point to $19 Million Motive
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jul 27
Summary
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo found enough evidence for D4vd, legally David Anthony Burke, to stand trial on charges tied to the sexual abuse and killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Hundreds of texts shown at the five-day hearing backed prosecutors' claim Burke killed Hernandez on April 23, 2025 after she threatened to expose their relationship, days before a debut album tied to a four-album Interscope deal worth up to $19 million.
Detective testimony also described images and messages indicating Burke had sex with Hernandez while she was a minor and that she became pregnant in early 2024 before having an abortion.
The hearing exposed gaps the defense is likely to press at trial: no murder weapon, no eyewitness to the killing, and medical testimony that could not identify the weapon or fully rule out self-harm.
Burke returns to court Aug. 31 for arraignment after the preliminary hearing; if convicted of special-circumstances murder, he faces life without parole or a death sentence that California still has under a 2019 execution moratorium.