Autopsy report released for 14-year-old girl found in singer D4vd’s Tesla. Lawyers push for public evidence as new disturbing details emerge

Pop Star or Predator? The Chilling Case Against D4vd Takes a Bold Legal Turn

The glossy world of indie-pop has collided with a gruesome reality that feels more like a noir thriller than a chart-topping success story. David Burke, the 21-year-old sensation known to millions of fans as D4vd, is facing a legal reckoning that has sent shockwaves from Hollywood Hills to the suburbs of Lake Elsinore.

In a high-stakes gamble, Burke’s legal team is demanding that prosecutors “put up or shut up,” forcing a public showdown over evidence that includes a grisly discovery and a digital mountain of data.David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)

A Macabre Discovery in the Hollywood Hills

The details of the case are, frankly, the stuff of nightmares. Seven months ago, authorities made a horrifying find: the dismembered remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were discovered inside Burke’s Tesla.

A newly released autopsy report paints a grim picture, citing two penetrating wounds to the upper body as the cause of death. But the prosecution’s narrative goes even deeper into the dark:

A Year of Abuse: Prosecutors allege Burke began sexually abusing the young girl when she was just 13.

The Motive: It is alleged that Burke took Celeste’s life when she threatened to expose their relationship.

The Aftermath: Charges include the mutilation of a human body, occurring roughly two weeks after the murder.

The “10-Day” Gamble

In a maneuver rarely seen in California courts, Burke’s lead attorney, the formidable Blair Berk, is refusing to “slow-pedal” the process. While most defendants wait months to see the prosecution’s hand, Burke is exercising his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days.

“We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez,” Berk stated firmly.

The prosecution, led by Deputy D.A. Beth Silverman, seems undeterred, noting they have 40 terabytes of evidence ready to be unleashed. To put that in perspective, that is roughly the equivalent of 20,000 hours of HD video.

Singer D4vd arrested in connection with murder of Celeste Rivas, LAPD says - ABC30 Fresno

From “Romantic Homicide” to Real-Life Horror

The irony of Burke’s career trajectory is not lost on observers. The singer skyrocketed to fame with the viral hit “Romantic Homicide”—a song that resonated with Gen Z for its lo-fi, moody aesthetic. Now, as his debut album Withered marks its one-year anniversary, Burke sits in a cell without bail, facing the very themes his music once stylized.