A preliminary hearing for David Anthony Burke, the recording artist known as d4vd, began Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in a Los Angeles courtroom. County prosecutors are presenting their capital murder case against Burke in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The hearing, expected to conclude Thursday, July 23, will determine whether enough evidence exists to send Burke to trial on charges of murder and sexual abuse. A preliminary hearing functions like a checkpoint: the judge does not decide guilt, only whether the prosecution has enough evidence to justify a full trial.

The hearing was originally expected to span four to five days, according to an April 2026 scheduling proceeding before Judge Olmedo. The case had seen several delays before the July 2026 hearing, partly because of the large volume of evidence gathered during the investigation.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office formally charged Burke with capital murder in April 2026, according to the DA's own press release. Capital murder is the most serious murder charge under California law, carrying the possibility of the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole upon conviction. Burke, 21, has been held in custody without bail since his arrest in April 2026 and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors accuse Burke of stabbing Hernandez to death at his Los Angeles residence. According to their account, the motive was to stop Hernandez from revealing the sexual nature of their relationship as Burke's music career was on the rise. Prosecutors say Burke and Hernandez began a sexual relationship in November 2023, when Burke was 18 and Hernandez was 13.

At the time of his arrest, Burke's defense team issued a statement saying he "was not the cause" of Hernandez's death. At a July 7, 2026 status hearing, both prosecution and defense attorneys told the judge they were ready to move forward toward trial.

The prosecution's evidentiary presentation is structured around several categories of forensic and circumstantial evidence. Forensic evidence refers to scientific, physical evidence like DNA or blood analysis, while circumstantial evidence relies on inference rather than direct observation. Prosecutors planned to present text messages between Burke and Hernandez that they say show their alleged sexual relationship and Hernandez threatening to expose him. Surveillance video of Burke last driving the Tesla in July 2025 was also slated for presentation, as was evidence of Burke's purchases of a body bag and two chainsaws. Forensic evidence linking blood stains in Burke's garage to Hernandez's genetic profile was among the physical evidence prosecutors planned to introduce.

Prosecutors allege Burke mutilated Hernandez's body by sawing her limbs with a chainsaw and amputating her ring finger, which bore a tattoo of his name. According to the prosecution, Burke discarded Hernandez's dismembered limbs in the Tesla.

The case came to law enforcement's attention through a tow yard in Hollywood. In September 2025, the manager of the tow yard alerted authorities after noticing a pungent odor coming from a Tesla and the presence of flies. Los Angeles police subsequently found Celeste Rivas Hernandez's decomposed remains in the Tesla, which had been impounded at the tow yard. The vehicle was registered to Burke's name.

Burke rose to popularity through viral TikTok singles and launched an international tour in support of his debut album, "Withered," in July 2025. The tour was cancelled in September 2025, the same month Hernandez's remains were discovered in the Tesla. Several of Burke's former collaborators distanced themselves from him following the discovery.

Hernandez's family released a statement in April 2026 eulogizing her, describing her as "a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance" and stating, "All we want is justice for Celeste."

The case has drawn attention not only for the severity of the charges but for the high-profile status of the defendant. Burke's streaming success and international touring schedule placed him among a newer generation of artists whose careers are built primarily through social media virality rather than traditional record label development.

The broader context here is how that rapid rise intersects with the timeline of the alleged crimes. The prosecution's narrative places the start of the relationship, the killing, and the discovery of remains along a continuum that partially overlaps with Burke's ascent in the music industry. For a career fueled by online momentum, the allegations create a stark contrast between public visibility and private conduct that the court will now sort through.

A key element to monitor as the hearing proceeds is how the defense responds to the prosecution's physical evidence, particularly the forensic linkage of blood in Burke's garage to Hernandez's genetic profile and the documented purchases of a body bag and chainsaws. The defense's April statement that Burke "was not the cause" of Hernandez's death is a narrow formulation. It does not directly contest the dismemberment allegations, leaving open the question of what affirmative defense Burke's legal team will mount if the case proceeds to trial. The Guardian

The preliminary hearing's conclusion on July 23 will determine whether Judge Olmedo finds probable cause, the legal standard requiring a reasonable basis to believe a crime was committed and the defendant committed it, to bind Burke over for trial on the capital murder charge. Given the volume of evidence and the four-to-five-day estimate from April proceedings, the hearing's schedule is tight.