TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prosecutors on Tuesday laid out key evidence against singer D4vd during the opening day of a preliminary hearing that will determine whether the Grammy-nominated artist will stand trial over the alleged murder and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
David Anthony Burke, the 21-year-old musician known professionally as D4vd, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors have also filed special-circumstance allegations, including murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait, leaving him eligible for either life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty if convicted.
The Independent revealed that Los Angeles County prosecutors opened the multi-day hearing by presenting evidence that they say links Burke to purchases allegedly made after Rivas Hernandez's death, including chainsaws, a body bag, an inflatable pool and other equipment investigators believe were used to dispose of the teenager's body.
Homicide Detective Joshua Byers testified that Burke placed the online orders using the alias "Trayvion Davis" while paying with his own bank cards and having the items delivered to his Hollywood residence. According to the detective, investigators later recovered most of those purchases during searches of Burke's property, including two chainsaws and a blue inflatable pool found inside his garage.
Byers further testified that a body bag purchased online matched the one in which the victim's remains were later discovered inside the front trunk of Burke's Tesla after the vehicle was impounded in September 2025. Prosecutors have previously said DNA evidence linked bloodstains found inside Burke's garage to Rivas Hernandez.
During the hearing, prosecutors displayed crime-scene photographs documenting the discovery of the victim's remains. Judge Charlaine Olmedo allowed the images to be shown as part of the evidentiary presentation, while members of the victim's family sat in the courtroom. According to investigators, the advanced state of decomposition initially prevented authorities from identifying the victim until her father contacted police after seeing media reports about the discovery.
Byers also testified that Burke had "Celeste" tattooed on one of his fingers. Prosecutors displayed photographs showing the tattoo, along with another matching "Shhh" tattoo that investigators said both Burke and the victim shared.
The prosecution alleges Burke first met Rivas Hernandez online several years earlier and that the relationship later became sexual despite her being underage. Court filings claim the teenager traveled from her hometown of Lake Elsinore to Burke's Los Angeles residence on April 23, 2025, after accepting transportation arranged through a ride-hailing service.
According to prosecutors, communication between the pair stopped shortly after the teenager arrived at Burke's residence.
Authorities allege Burke fatally stabbed Rivas Hernandez after she threatened to expose their relationship, fearing it would destroy his rapidly growing music career.
Earlier on Tuesday, prosecutors played body-camera footage recorded in February 2024 when Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies visited Burke's residence after Rivas Hernandez had previously been reported missing.
In the recording, Burke told deputies he had only met the girl once in person and insisted she had claimed to be 18 years old.
"She told me she was 18. Everybody's telling me she was 13," Burke said in the footage shown in court.
Deputy Juan Gonzalez, who appeared as a witness, testified Burke had been cooperative during the encounter and voluntarily allowed officers to search the property. Investigators found no sign of Rivas Hernandez during that visit.
Much later in the hearing, additional testimony expanded on investigators' reconstruction of events following the alleged killing. According to Rolling Stone, prosecutors said digital evidence showed Burke remained in contact with Rivas Hernandez for months after she had previously been reported missing and allegedly bought her a burner phone after her parents confiscated her original device.
Detective Byers testified investigators also uncovered travel records indicating Burke and the teenager traveled together to Texas and London before her death.
Prosecutors further alleged Burke purchased a third chainsaw, along with cleaning supplies, a burn cage and a fireproof mat in the months after the alleged murder. One chainsaw, investigators said, has never been recovered.
Court testimony also addressed digital evidence extracted from Burke's Tesla. Byers said investigators believe Burke was the last person to drive the vehicle before it was left parked on a Los Angeles street, where it remained for weeks before being tagged as abandoned and eventually towed.
Authorities later discovered the victim's remains inside the vehicle after it was impounded.
Investigators told the court they believe Burke left the body inside the Tesla while continuing to travel for promotional appearances supporting his debut major-label album.
Prosecutors claim Burke attempted to explain away the odor coming from the vehicle and surrounding property during that period.
Burke's defense team sought to challenge the prosecution's evidence throughout Tuesday's proceedings. Attorney Blair Berk questioned detectives about investigative procedures and the extent of forensic testing conducted on various items recovered during the investigation.
The defense argued that additional DNA analysis was not performed on several key pieces of evidence, including certain items recovered from Burke's residence and parts of the Tesla.
Berk has consistently denied the allegations against her client, previously stating that the evidence would ultimately show Burke neither murdered Rivas Hernandez nor caused her death.
Before testimony began, the court partially granted a defense request to loosen Burke's courtroom restraints. Judge Olmedo ruled his handcuffs could be removed but ordered that he remain secured to his chair by a waist restraint throughout the proceedings.
The preliminary hearing functions as a condensed version of a trial, allowing prosecutors to present evidence while giving the defense an opportunity to challenge its strength. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Olmedo will determine whether prosecutors have established sufficient probable cause for the case to proceed to a jury trial.
Outside the courtroom, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will seek the death penalty if the case moves forward.
The allegations come as Burke's once-promising music career remains under intense scrutiny. Performing under the stage name D4vd, Burke rose to prominence after his 2022 breakout single "Romantic Homicide" became a viral hit across TikTok, Spotify and other streaming platforms.
He later signed with Interscope Records, opened for singer SZA on tour, performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and released his debut full-length album.
During Tuesday's hearing, one of Burke's financial managers testified that the artist earned between US$10 million and US$11.5 million from 2023 through 2025, underscoring prosecutors' contention that Burke feared the alleged relationship with the teenager would jeopardize his rapidly expanding career.
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue for several more days before the court decides whether the case will proceed to trial.
Read: US Singer D4vd Charged with Murder of 14-Year-Old, Pleads Not Guilty
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