Pop singer David A. Burke, professionally known as D4vd, has formally requested that Los Angeles Superior Court deputies remove his handcuffs and physical restraints for his scheduled preliminary hearing.
The 21-year-old performer faces severe felony charges including the alleged sexual abuse of Celeste Rivas Hernandez starting when she was 13 years old, her subsequent murder in April 2025 at age 14, and the subsequent dismemberment of her remains to prevent her from exposing him and damaging his burgeoning music career. He has entered a plea of not guilty.
Defence attorney Blair Berke argued in the unchaining application that her client has maintained a compliant demeanour during five prior court appearances without displaying disruptive behaviour or escape risks. Citing established legal precedents requiring restraints to be minimised and justified by specific security necessities, the defence awaits a ruling from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo.
Prosecution outlines evidence and timeline
The multi-day preliminary hearing will feature testimony from Los Angeles Police Department Robbery-Homicide Division detectives who initially apprehended Burke on April 16, 2025.
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman intends to introduce photographic evidence documenting the alleged unlawful sexual relationship alongside text messages recovered from the victim’s device. According to prosecution briefs, communications show Rivas Hernandez communicating with the artist days before her phone activity ceased on April 23, 2025, culminating in statements where she threatened to publicly ruin his professional career.
Investigators maintain that rideshare logs indicate Burke dispatched a vehicle to transport the teenager from her Lake Elsinore residence to his rented Hollywood Hills property on the night of April 23. Prosecutors allege she was fatally stabbed that evening.
Forensic evidence and remains discovery
State lawyers plan to present store purchase records showing Burke acquiring chainsaws, a body bag and an inflatable pool used to dismember and conceal the victim. Forensic testing allegedly links Rivas Hernandez’s DNA profile to the recovered disposal tools.
The victim’s remains were ultimately discovered on September 8, 2025, packed inside two bags located in the front boot of a black Tesla registered to the singer. The vehicle had been towed from a street near his rental home after being abandoned on July 29, 2025, just before Burke embarked on an international concert tour. Security footage purportedly places the defendant as the final individual to operate the automobile.
