Rachel Morgan reporting: The dramatic trial of singer D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, has taken a significant turn as prosecutors attempt to establish a financial motive behind the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. As the preliminary hearing entered its second day, an executive from Burke's former record label, Interscope Records, took the stand to reveal that Burke had secured a multi-million-dollar recording deal just days before the teenager's body was discovered in his Los Angeles residence.
Burke, now 21, is facing severe charges including first-degree murder, "lewd and lascivious acts" with a child under the age of 14, and the mutilation of human remains. He has been held in custody without bail since his arrest in April 2026. The harrowing discovery of Rivas Hernandez's body was made last year, with police describing the conditions as "gruesome". Prosecutors claim that Burke fatally stabbed Rivas Hernandez at his home, motivated by a desire to silence her after she threatened to expose their relationship – which could have jeopardised his rising music career.
Prosecutors presented distressing photographs of Rivas Hernandez's dismembered and decomposing body during the first day of hearings on Tuesday. They also sought to demonstrate that Burke had used his credit cards to purchase items such as chainsaws, a body bag, and a shovel – raising suspicions about their use in the aftermath of the alleged crime.
The preliminary hearing is expected to conclude within three to five days. If convicted of murder, Burke could face either the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Rivas Hernandez's family was present in court for the commencement of the hearing, having previously released a statement following Burke's arrest expressing their profound grief and desire for justice for Celeste.