Singer D4vd’s iPhone contained child porn, prosecutor says
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)
LOS ANGELES – An iPhone owned by singer D4vd, who is charged with killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in the trunk of his Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard, contained “a significant amount of child pornography,” a prosecutor told a judge Thursday.
Attorneys agreed to convene again next week to determine how quickly a hearing can be held to determine if the case can proceed to trial.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell walks past an image of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles after a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The 21-year-old D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is charged with capital murder in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found Sept. 8, 2025, in the front trunk of the Tesla registered to the singer.
The body was decomposed and dismembered, with the head and torso in one bag and her severed limbs in another, authorities said.
D4vd — pronounced “David” — was charged Monday with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under age 14 and mutilation of human remains. He remains jailed without bail, and could face a possible death sentence if convicted, although prosecutors have not yet decided if they will seek capital punishment.
D4vd pleads not guilty
Through his attorneys, D4vd pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday.
In court Thursday, prosecutors and defense attorneys discussed next steps in the case, with a status conference scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon, when the parties are expected to determine how quickly they can proceed with a preliminary hearing, which will determine if there is enough evidence for D4vd to stand trial.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo the prosecution is “anxious” to being the preliminary hearing, noting it has “been one year since Celeste’s death.”
Prosecutors said Monday they believe Celeste was killed by D4vd in a Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025.
Voluminous amount of evidence
Silverman noted, however, that there is a voluminous amount of evidence in the case. She said three grand juries had been hearing evidence in the investigation, and evidence ran the gamut from police reports to body-worn video to forensic reports and the medical examiner’s investigation.
She also said during the hearing, without elaborating on the content, that D4vd’s iPhone contained “a significant amount of child pornography.”
Defense attorneys asked that prosecutors turn over as much “basic discovery” as they can as quickly as possible. Olmedo tentatively scheduled a preliminary hearing to begin next Friday, May 1. Silverman told the judge the prosecution estimated its portion of that hearing would take between four and five days. It’s unclear how long the defense portion of the hearing might take.
D4vd appears in court
D4vd, appearing in court Thursday in orange jail clothes, did not speak during the hearing.
On Wednesday, the county Medical Examiner’s Office released the long-sealed autopsy report on Celeste’s death. The examination concluded that the teen died of “multiple penetrating injuries” with an object or objects.
The autopsy was performed on Sept. 10, 2025, two days after the girl’s body was found. The manner and cause of death were determined Dec. 9, 2025, but the results had been ordered sealed by a judge while police and the District Attorney’s Office built their case.
Celeste’s body was found just days after what would have been her 15th birthday.
Patrick Steinfeld, attorney for Celeste’s parents Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, released a statement Wednesday in response to the autopsy report.
Family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez devastated
“The Rivas Hernandez family is absolutely devastated by the findings contained in the Medical Examiner’s Report involving the horrible and gruesome death of their beloved daughter,” Steinfeld said. “These findings have caused profound emotional pain for the family. They respectfully ask for privacy, understanding, and patience as they process this information. Jesus and Mercedes will not attend David Anthony Burke’s hearing (Thursday). The Rivas Hernandez family sincerely appreciates the community’s support and concern.”
The autopsy report gave specific details about the manner in which the teen’s body was dismembered, the location of the penetration wounds on her side and chest and the amputation of two of her fingers.
The murder charge against D4vd includes the special circumstance allegations of lying in wait, murder for financial gain and killing a witness in a criminal investigation. The District Attorney’s Office is expected to decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Burke. (CNS)
