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Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was found dead in the front trunk of a Tesla belonging to singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd. Prosecutors charged Burke with murder in April 2026; a judge ordered him to stand trial in July, and he pleaded not guilty on August 31, 2026. Those are procedural milestones, not a finding of guilt. The latest verified update here is the August arraignment report; the outcome of a status conference expected in October has not been verified.
Who was the person found in D4vd’s Tesla?
The Los Angeles Police Department identified the deceased as Celeste Rivas Hernandez. LAPD said her body was found in the front trunk of a Tesla belonging to David Burke. The department’s clarification identifies September 8, 2025, as the discovery date. LAPD’s investigation announcement and its later statement correcting misinformation provide the department’s accounts.
What has happened in the case?
- September 8, 2025: LAPD later identified this as the date Rivas Hernandez’s body was discovered in the Tesla’s front trunk.
- April 20, 2026: The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced murder charges against Burke. The announcement described the prosecution’s allegations; a charge is not proof of guilt. Read the District Attorney’s Office announcement.
- July 27, 2026: Los Angeles County reported that a judge ordered Burke to stand trial. This is a decision to proceed with a trial, not a verdict. Read the county’s announcement.
- August 31, 2026: CBS Los Angeles reported that Burke pleaded not guilty at arraignment and that his defense counsel had changed. The report said a status conference was expected in October. Read the arraignment report.
Has D4vd’s case gone to trial?
The verified updates establish that a judge ordered Burke to stand trial and that he later entered a not-guilty plea. They do not establish that a trial has begun or that a verdict has been reached. The October status conference’s outcome has not been verified here, so no later court result or trial date should be treated as confirmed on this account.
What did LAPD clarify about the discovery?
LAPD specifically rejected a rumor about the condition of the body, stating: “The body of Celeste Rivas was not frozen when it was discovered on September 8, 2025.” The statement addresses that claim; it does not establish other disputed details. See LAPD’s correction.
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