D4vd is ‘Bored’ as Gruesome Body Parts Are Shown in Court

A visibly uninterested D4vd sat in a Los Angeles courtroom today as prosecutors displayed graphic images of a dismembered teenage girl, the first day of a preliminary hearing that will determine whether the 21-year-old singer faces trial for murder. Courtroom observers described the artist, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, as appearing bored and disengaged while the jury heard evidence of how 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains were found in the front trunk of his Tesla.

The hearing, expected to last through the week, is the culmination of a monthslong investigation into the April 2025 death of the teenager. Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Celeste multiple times, dismembered her body with a chainsaw, and concealed the remains in his vehicle for weeks before it was towed and discovered by a lot manager who noticed a foul stench and flies. Today marked the first time the public learned the full extent of the gruesome evidence.

During the morning session, three witnesses took the stand. A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy testified about visiting Burke’s Hollywood Hills home in February 2024, months before the killing, when Celeste was reported missing. Body camera footage showed Burke telling deputies he hadn’t seen her in months, yet he pulled up a yearbook photo on his phone and claimed she told him she was 18, not 13.

The deputy noted Burke’s calm demeanor during that encounter.

Then an LAPD detective described the scene at the Hollywood towyard last September. When investigators opened the Tesla’s front trunk, they found a black cadaver bag covered in insects. Inside lay Celeste’s severely decomposed head and torso.

Beneath that bag, a plastic garbage bag held her dismembered arms and legs. Two fingers on her left hand—the ring and pinky—had been amputated and are still missing, according to testimony.

The courtroom fell silent as prosecutors projected evidence photos onto screens. Reporters stopped typing. Celeste’s mother, Mercedes, sitting three rows ahead, bowed her head and cried.

Her father sat beside her, their faces contorted in grief as they confronted the horrifying reality of their daughter’s final moments.

Burke’s defense team had earlier argued that his handcuffs should be removed to avoid prejudicing potential jurors. The judge agreed to remove the cuffs from his hands but left his waist and feet shackled. Throughout the proceedings, Burke showed little emotion, sometimes appearing to stare blankly ahead while attorneys sparred over evidence and witness testimony.

The prosecution’s case hinges on a central motive: financial gain. According to court documents, Burke’s debut album was scheduled for release just two days after the alleged murder. Celeste had threatened to expose their illegal sexual relationship—which prosecutors say began when she was 13 and he was 18—a revelation that could have derailed his multimillion-dollar music career.

A business associate testified today about Burke’s finances. Between 2023 and 2025, the singer earned between $10 million and $11. 5 million in gross revenue.

His record label head reportedly made $3. 5 million to $4 million off Burke alone. This testimony supports the special circumstance allegation of murder for financial gain, which makes Burke eligible for the death penalty in California, even though the state has a moratorium on executions.

Prosecutors also presented evidence of child sexual abuse material found on Burke’s devices. In their pretrial brief, they described photographs depicting Celeste naked and engaged in sexual activity when she was 13, along with text messages discussing pregnancy, abortion, and emergency contraception. One message from Celeste read, “All we do is have sex and just hang out.

Man, I want more than that for myself.”

The timeline presented by prosecutors shows a systematic effort to cover up the crime. After allegedly killing Celeste on April 23, 2025, Burke drove to a remote area in Santa Barbara County to dispose of evidence. He then returned and sent her phone text messages asking where she was—despite knowing she was dead.

In the following weeks, he ordered a chainsaw, a body bag, laundry bags, a blue inflatable pool, and a burn cage from Amazon under the fake name Victoria Mendes.

Investigators found blue plastic fragments embedded in Celeste’s remains that matched the inflatable pool. The pool had multiple linear cuts, consistent with dismemberment. Blood samples from the garage floor of Burke’s rental home matched Celeste’s DNA.

The defense has not yet presented its case, but Burke’s attorney, Blair Burke, stated outside court that “the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez, nor was he the cause of her death.”

For the victim’s family, the hearing is a painful step toward accountability. Their civil attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, told reporters that Celeste’s parents have not discussed whether they want the death penalty. He criticized Burke’s mother, who served as his manager, saying, “At some point you have to stop babying the adult man and he needs to take accountability for his actions.”

The judge adjourned proceedings around 4 p. m. , with testimony set to resume at 9:30 a.

m. tomorrow. Prosecutors expect the preliminary hearing to run three to five days.

Three special circumstances—lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and murder of a witness—could send the case directly to trial on first-degree murder charges if the judge finds sufficient probable cause.

The case has captivated the public since Burke’s arrest in April 2026, following months of silence after his tour was canceled. The singer, who rose to fame through Fortnite streams and Coachella performances, now faces life in prison or death. Courtroom observers noted that during breaks, Burke did not speak to his attorneys or look toward the victim’s family.

His expression remained flat, as if the proceedings were merely a tedious inconvenience.

More witnesses are expected to testify about Burke’s behavior in the weeks following the murder, including friends who noticed a strong smell in his home. One live stream from July 2025 captured Burke apologizing for the odor and claiming he had used the bathroom hours earlier. Prosecutors allege that smell was the decomposing body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

The medical examiner’s report, released last month, lists cause of death as multiple penetrating injuries and manner of death as homicide. Toxicology showed methamphetamine and benzodiazepines in Celeste’s system, though prosecutors have not linked those to Burke. The report noted that two stab wounds to the torso—one to the upper abdomen penetrating the liver, another to the left chest—were consistent with sharp force injuries.

Outside the courthouse, a small group of supporters held signs reading “Justice for Celeste” and “No More Silence.” The case has sparked discussions about the exploitation of minors in the music industry and the responsibilities of adults in positions of power. Burke’s management team, including his manager Robert Morgan Roth, has faced scrutiny for failing to report concerns to police.

As day one concluded, the only certainty is that this case will continue to unfold in excruciating detail. Every new piece of evidence, every witness statement, and every image shown in court chips away at the once-glossy image of a rising star. For Celeste’s family, the wait for justice continues.

For David Burke, the mask of boredom may soon crack under the weight of a trial that could decide his fate.