D4vd Singer: Latest Updates on the Celeste Rivas Hernandez Murder Case

David Anthony Burke, known to fans as d4vd, spent a few short years going from a bedroom SoundCloud upload to the Billboard charts, with hits like “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me” driving the climb. That path has now collided with a criminal case most fans never saw coming.

He is charged in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, and a judge has already ordered him to stand trial. New filings, hearings, and family statements keep surfacing, so his name now pulls up two very different stories at once.

Each of these points gets more context further in, including how the charges came together and what happens between now and trial.

Latest Updates on the D4vd Singer Case

Burke was arrested April 16, 2026, after a months-long LAPD investigation, and the case has moved quickly since then.

Charges filed: Murder with special circumstance allegations of witness murder, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait, plus continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

The LA County DA’s charging announcement also confirms a weapons allegation that Burke personally used a sharp instrument to commit the crime. Burke pleaded not guilty at arraignment.

Preliminary hearing: A five-day hearing in July ended with Judge Charlaine F.

Olmedo ruled there was enough evidence to proceed to trial. Court testimony placed Burke’s phone and Tesla near a remote Santa Barbara County road on three occasions, including the night prosecutors say Celeste died, according to ABC News.

During the same hearing, an LAPD detective testified about explicit material and messages found on Burke’s phone that prosecutors say support the timeline of the alleged relationship, reporting that has been independently confirmed across the ABC affiliate network.

Cause of death confirmed: The LA County Department of Medical Examiner ruled Celeste’s cause of death as multiple penetrating injuries caused by an object or objects, with the manner of death classified as homicide.

The finding was reached in December 2025 but was withheld from public release under a court order requested by LAPD and was not made public until April 2026.

New defense team: On August 31, Burke’s private attorneys, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, withdrew during his post-preliminary arraignment. He is now represented by Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel.

Grand jury investigation: Unsealed court filings confirm Burke has been formally named the target of an ongoing LA County grand jury investigation.

Both of his parents, Colleen and Dawud Burke, were ordered to appear and testify, a summons the family has fought in Texas court

Civil lawsuit: On September 7, 2026, exactly one year after Celeste’s remains were found, her parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Burke and several people in his circle. The same week, on what would have been her sixteenth birthday, the family publicly called for the death penalty.

Next court date. A status conference is set for October 19, 2026. A trial is expected within 90 days of Burke’s August 31 arraignment.

None of this amounts to a conviction. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and the case will ultimately be decided at trial.

Why Is D4vd Trending Now?

d4vd built his following through short, emotional songs that spread fast on TikTok, eventually landing his 2025 debut album Withered in the Billboard Top 20. That was the version of him most casual listeners knew.

Interest shifted in September 2025, when investigators identified Celeste’s remains inside his impounded Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard. From that point on, searches for his name split between longtime fans and people trying to follow a fast-developing legal story.

Each new hearing, filing, or family statement adds another wave of attention. The wrongful death lawsuit filed this month, combined with the family’s public call for the death penalty, is currently driving most of the search interest around his name.

What Charges Does D4vd Face?

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Burke faces one count each of the following, filed under case number 26CJCF02399.

• First-degree murder, with special circumstance allegations of witness murder, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait
• Continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14
• Unlawful mutilation of human remains

The complaint also includes a weapons allegation, claiming Burke used a sharp instrument to carry out the killing.

A charge is only an accusation the state believes it can prove, not a finding of guilt. That distinction matters here, since the case has cleared a preliminary hearing but has not gone to trial.

If convicted as charged, Burke could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said the decision on which sentence to pursue will be made at a later date, and his office is still reviewing a mitigation packet from Burke’s defense team, according to PBS NewsHour.

D4vd Case Timeline From Investigation to Trial

The timeline below brings together the reported investigation milestones, charges, and court proceedings in the case involving d4vd and Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

A firm trial date has not been announced, though it is expected within 90 days of the August 31 arraignment.

Who Was Celeste Rivas Hernandez?

Celeste was born on September 7, 2010, and grew up in Lake Elsinore, California. She was 14 when prosecutors say she died in April 2025, though the medical examiner’s report lists her as 15 at the time her remains were formally examined that September.

Loved ones reported her missing starting in early 2024, when she was still 13. Investigators later pieced together a pattern of her moving in and out of contact with family during that stretch.

Because of the condition of her remains, an identification was not confirmed until eight days after they were found in the Tesla. Her parents, Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas, have since spoken publicly about her loss and are now pursuing both the criminal case and a civil lawsuit for accountability.

The Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against D4vd

On September 7, 2026, one year to the day after Celeste’s remains were discovered, her parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The 20-page complaint names Burke directly along with several people and companies tied to him.

Named defendants include Burke’s manager Josh Marshall, finance manager Robert Morgenroth, their company Mogul Vision, Burke’s mother Colleen Burke, and live-in security guard Sheldon Jacques, according to Rolling Stone and wire reporting picked up by Reuters.

Causes of action. The suit contains 12 causes of action, 9 of them against Burke personally, including wrongful death, battery, sexual battery, childhood sexual assault, assault, false imprisonment, human trafficking, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Core allegation. The family claims Burke arranged in early 2024 for Celeste to be transported to and from his Hollywood Hills home, and that the people and companies around him knew or should have known about the alleged abuse and failed to intervene.

Burke has 30 days to respond to the civil complaint. This case runs on its own schedule and is separate from the criminal trial, though it draws heavily on the same evidence.

What Happens Next in the D4vd Court Case?

The next milestone on the calendar is a status conference on October 19. From there, expect pretrial motions and continued evidence exchanges as both sides prepare arguments.

One added wrinkle involves Burke’s own family. Court filings confirm his parents and brother were summoned to testify before a Los Angeles County grand jury investigating whether Burke may have been involved in Celeste’s death, a summons the family has fought in Texas court on due process grounds. It remains unclear what information prosecutors hope to gain from that testimony.

It also helps to separate the two legal tracks running side by side. The criminal case will determine guilt and could carry a sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The wrongful death lawsuit, filed separately by Celeste’s family, seeks financial damages in civil court and moves on its own schedule, independent of how the criminal trial turns out.

Is D4vd Facing the Death Penalty?

The death penalty remains a live, unresolved question in the case. District Attorney Nathan Hochman has confirmed his office is weighing whether to pursue capital punishment but has not made a final decision, in part because prosecutors were still waiting on a mitigation packet from Burke’s new public defender as of late August, according to CBS News Los Angeles.

Under a policy Hochman announced after taking office, the death penalty is only pursued after an extensive internal review and only in what his office calls exceedingly rare cases, reversing the prior administration’s blanket ban on seeking it.

Celeste’s family has publicly asked Hochman to pursue capital punishment if Burke is convicted, a statement they released on what would have been Celeste’s sixteenth birthday.

Evidence and Claims Presented in Court

The court has heard arguments from both prosecutors and the defense, with each side presenting different views of the evidence as the case moves toward trial.

Prosecutors’ Claims and Evidence Presented

Much of the preliminary hearing centered on physical evidence rather than testimony from witnesses close to Burke.

Detectives testified about a purchase history that included chainsaws and heavy-duty bags in the weeks after Celeste disappeared, along with matching “Shhhh” tattoos on their index fingers, which investigators say Burke and Celeste both had inked.

A deputy medical examiner also testified that fingers on Celeste’s left hand, including the one bearing a tattoo of Burke’s name, had been removed.

Prosecutors argue the relationship turned dangerous once Celeste threatened to make it public, and that the killing was meant to protect Burke’s career. A text message cited during the hearing and reported by Houston Public Media shows Celeste warning Burke the night before her death that she would end his career and his life.

D4vd’s Defense and Response to Allegations

Blair Berk, Burke’s attorney before her withdrawal, maintained that the evidence would ultimately clear him of causing Celeste’s death. That remains his position, since he has pleaded not guilty to every count.

The public defender’s office has not issued a new statement addressing the specific allegations since it took over the case. Burke is legally presumed innocent, and neither side has settled the case with a verdict.

Who Is D4vd Singer Before the Case?

D4vd’s rise through streaming and viral platforms reflects how many modern artists, including singers like King George, have built strong audiences through digital-first music careers.

Burke started recording out of necessity, not ambition. He first uploaded music to avoid copyright strikes on his gaming videos, then moved to SoundCloud and YouTube around 2021.

“Romantic Homicide” hit TikTok the following year and became the breakout moment that changed everything, eventually crossing more than a billion Spotify streams.

From there, he signed with Darkroom and Interscope, built a fast-growing streaming audience, and released Withered in 2025 to a Billboard Top 20 debut.

D4vd’s Music Career and Public Profile

Withered brought collaborations with artists like Kali Uchis and pushed Burke’s sound past TikTok into mainstream radio and streaming playlists. He was widely seen as one of the more promising young voices in alternative pop, known for a soulful delivery paired with simple, personal lyrics.

Once Celeste’s identity was confirmed, his touring plans, a deluxe reissue of Withered, and a scheduled Grammy Museum appearance were all called off. His career has stayed on pause since, with public attention now fixed on the courtroom rather than new releases.

Final Thoughts

What began as a missing person case has grown into one of the most closely watched criminal trials tied to the music industry in recent memory.

Burke has denied every charge against him, and a wrongful death lawsuit now runs alongside the criminal proceedings.

The songs that first made him famous still circulate online, but they now sit next to a very different kind of headline.

The most reliable way to track where this case goes from here is to follow verified court records and official releases from the LA County District Attorney’s Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Pronounce D4vd?

The stage name is pronounced exactly like “David.” Burke chose the stylized spelling with numbers and letters to stand out as a unique, searchable brand online.

How Old Is D4vd?

He turned 21 in the spring of 2026, putting him solidly in the same Gen Z age bracket as most of his fan base.

What Is D4vd’s Most Streamed Song?

“Romantic Homicide” remains his biggest hit, having crossed well over a billion Spotify streams since it first spread on TikTok back in 2022.

What Is D4vd’s Net Worth?

Estimates vary widely, from roughly two to three million dollars at his career peak to far lower figures reported since his record deal ended.

Is D4vd’s Music Still on Streaming Platforms?

Yes, most of his catalog remains available, though several collaborators pulled joint tracks and a petition has pushed platforms to remove his music entirely.

Did People Think Celeste Was Older Than 14?

Yes. Friends in Burke’s circle believed Celeste was a 19-year-old college student, partly because she reportedly used fake identification at events.