US singer D4vd rose to fame in 2022 when his song 'Romantic Homicide' became a viral sensation on TikTok. (EPA Images pic)LOS ANGELES: American singer D4vd will stand trial on charges of killing and dismembering a 14-year-old girl who prosecutors say threatened to reveal their illegal sexual relationship, a judge ordered Monday.Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled there was enough incriminating evidence to proceed after a five-day hearing, during which prosecutors presented text messages from the teen victim - whose body was discovered in the trunk of D4vd's car - threatening to end his career.The 21-year-old singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, allegedly began a sexual relationship with Celeste Rivas Hernandez when she was 13 and he was 18.Prosecutors say Hernandez was jealous of another woman and threatened to reveal their relationship in April 2025, about 24 hours before her death and three days before his first album was released."I swear to GOD I will kill u she was in my dam seat i will strangle u... i will end ur career and ur life I will damage anything," Hernandez wrote in profanity-laced texts presented by prosecutors.The singer then allegedly paid for an Uber to bring her to his home and subsequently stabbed her to death.According to prosecutors, Burke's Amazon receipts show he purchased chainsaws and an inflatable pool, as well as a portable "burn box" incinerator that turned out to be too small to destroy her body.Hernandez's decomposing body was found in September 2025 in the trunk of a Tesla registered in the singer's name, which had been towed to a Hollywood impound lot.D4vd's defence lawyer Blair Berk said "there was no evidence of deliberate intention to kill."Prosecutor Beth Silverman countered that, saying "there's nothing in this case that sounds like an accident.The singer rose to fame in 2022 when his song "Romantic Homicide" became a viral sensation on TikTok.Burke has denied one count each of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
He could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted. The star is accused of killing Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found in a Tesla registered to his address. A judge ruled Monday that there is enough evidence to put singer D4vd on trial in the killing and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge ruled Monday that there is enough evidence to put singer D4vd on trial in the killing and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after, authorities said, she had threatened to expose their relationship and crater his career.Los Angeles Judge Charlaine Olmedo decided the evidence prosecutors presented at a preliminary hearing that spanned five days provided probable cause for a trial on charges of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.“The people have met their burden on all counts,” Olmedo said. She ordered that Burke continue to be held without bail.D4vd, the 21-year-old singer born David Burke whose career was steeply rising before the allegations emerged, has pleaded not guilty. He showed no emotion when the judge issued her ruling.
Defense lawyers declined to comment outside court after the ruling.Olmedo emphasized that the probable cause standard for a preliminary hearing like this is much lower than the threshold at trial. However, prosecutors asserted the evidence was overwhelming.“Based on the mountains of evidence presented,” Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said, “all of the allegations have been proved way beyond the standard required.”Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said outside court that prosecutors are still weighing whether to seek the death penalty. 31.Prosecutors on Monday wrapped up their case by giving a moment-by-moment account of Rivas Hernandez's last night, showing that after a stream of text messages with Burke, her phone went permanently silent when she arrived at his home.As she neared his Hollywood home shortly after 10 a.m.
on April 23, 2025, in an Uber he had sent to pick her up, she sent her final text: “girly pop i’m almost there open ur door if ur home.”Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed her to death when she came through the door.The night before, the two argued via text about his relationship with a woman. She sent him an angry and profane text saying she will tell her dad so many lies about him and “i will end ur career and ur life.”Prosecutors said that Burke met Rivas Hernandez when she was 11, began sexually abusing her when she was 13 and he was 18, stabbed her to death when she threatened to report him and ruin his career, and cut up her body in his garage with cha… Musican was a “very clever adult” who sexually abused Celeste Rivas Hernandez and “gaslit” her before murdering her, prosecutors argued
A judge ruled singer D4vd must stand trial in the killing and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors on Monday gave a moment-by-moment account of the last night of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, showing that after a stream of text messages with singer D4vd, her phone went permanently silent when she arrived at his home. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors on Monday gave a moment-by-moment account of the last night of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, showing that after a stream of text messages with singer D4vd, her phone went permanently silent when she arrived at his home.
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