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Singer D4vd has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him during his first court appearance in the Celeste Rivas Hernandez murder case.
The 21-year-old artist wore a black hoodie during his arraignment hearing on Monday, April 20. He pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder with special circumstances, mutilation of a human body, and lewd and lascivious sexual acts with a person under 14. His attorneys also requested a preliminary hearing within 10 days, which would force prosecutors to show their evidence and witnesses related to the case. If the prosecution doesn't come prepared, a judge could dismiss the case altogether.
The District Attorney's Office of Los Angeles County said Celeste Rivas Hernandez was last seen entering the singer's home on April 23, 2025, and was never seen again. District Attorney Nathan Hochman alleged d4vd, born David Anthony Burke, killed the 14-year-old girl for "financial gain" while inside the home. D.A. Hochman suggested that the teen threatened to reveal the details of their alleged sexual relationship and invited her to the home to kill her. LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell said they have evidence that suggests Burke and Celeste had sexual encounters.
Prosecutors argue that Burke killed the teenage girl with a "sharp instrument" on April 23, 2025, and mutilated her body on May 5. Last November, authorities reportedly discovered evidence that confirms D4vd took a late-night trip in his Tesla to a remote area in Santa Barbara County in the spring of 2025. The teen's body parts remained in the front trunk of his vehicle for four months before they were discovered in an impound lot in Hollywood. The Medical Examiner had previously confirmed that Celeste's murder was ruled a homicide, but the details behind the alleged murder had not been revealed until Burke was formally charged.
Burke is being held in custody at the L.A. County Men's Central Jail without bail. His attorneys, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, maintain that Burke "was not the cause of her death." Celeste's parents was in the courtroom during the singer's arraignment. Meanwhile, Burke's family broke its silence in a statement they made to TMZ.
"We are disappointed but not surprised that the District Attorney made this decision," attorney Kent Schaffer. "David's family stands behind him 100%."