Rachel Morgan
A 14-year-old girl's tragic fate has been further intertwined with allegations of abuse and manipulation by musician David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd. New details in the ongoing murder case against him have come to light during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles, where prosecutors are seeking a trial on charges of Hernandez's murder and alleged sexual abuse.
Prosecutors presented iCloud data recovered from Burke’s iPhone, revealing text messages between him and Hernandez dating back to August 2022. The exchanges indicated that Hernandez was pregnant at the age of 11, with Burke confirming paternity in January 2024. However, it appears an abortion had been arranged by both parties more than a year before her death.
Burke's iPhone records also revealed messages suggesting he was anxious about being discovered due to his own career aspirations. One exchange from June 2024 read, “Let’s let this abortion be the last one til we have the real one…”
The case took a darker turn with the discovery of Hernandez's severely decomposed remains in the front boot of Burke's Tesla last September. He has since been charged with her murder and faces further allegations of sexual abuse against an 11-year-old girl. Prosecutors claim that he began abusing Hernandez when she was just 13, and that his own music career may have been a motivating factor.
During the preliminary hearing, which commenced on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, graphic evidence has been presented to the court. A homicide detective testified about Burke's online purchases of items such as body bags, chainsaws, and inflatables in the days following Hernandez’s death. Medical expert Dr. Grant Ho stated that the decomposition made it "extremely difficult to tell" the exact time of death.
Other evidence presented included images showing tattoos on both Burke and Hernandez, with prosecutors arguing they are linked. The court also saw photos of air fresheners found in Burke's Tesla alongside Hernandez’s remains, as well as an image of at least 11 such products being purchased by Burke online around the time of her death.