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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains were found on September 8, 2025, in the front trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to musician David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd. In April 2026, prosecutors charged Burke, and on July 27 a judge ordered him to stand trial after a five-day preliminary hearing. The charges and prosecution account are allegations; the case’s status after a court appearance scheduled for August 31, 2026, is not verified by the latest official update cited here.
What police found and when
On September 8, 2025, Los Angeles police responded to a tow yard after a foul odor was reported. Remains were found in the front trunk of an impounded Tesla. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office later said the car was registered to David Anthony Burke, who performs as D4vd. Vehicle registration is not, by itself, proof that its registered owner committed a crime.
Authorities identified the remains as Celeste Rivas Hernandez on September 16, 2025, according to a contemporaneous report by Rolling Stone. That report said the medical examiner had deferred a cause-of-death determination at the time. It described the status then, not a current finding about cause of death.
Who was Celeste Rivas Hernandez?
Rivas Hernandez was a teenager from Lake Elsinore, California. The District Attorney’s April 20, 2026 charging announcement describes her as 14 at the time of the alleged crimes. Early coverage used a different age; the age cited here follows the later official charging release.
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What charges did prosecutors file?
On April 20, 2026, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that Burke had been charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The complaint also includes special-circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. These are charges and allegations, not findings that Burke committed the offenses.
What prosecutors allege
According to the District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors allege Burke invited Rivas Hernandez to his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, and that she was not seen again afterward. At the preliminary hearing, prosecutors presented evidence that the county’s July update described as including alleged purchases and forensic evidence. Those details are part of the prosecution’s presentation and theory, not a verdict or independent finding of guilt.
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The District Attorney’s Office stated: “The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Has D4vd been ordered to stand trial?
Yes. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Burke to stand trial after a five-day preliminary hearing, according to a Los Angeles County update dated July 27, 2026. A preliminary hearing determines whether the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence for a case to proceed; the order is not a determination of guilt.
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The July 27 county update said Burke was scheduled to return to court on August 31, 2026. The official update cited here does not verify what happened at that appearance or whether a later ruling changed the case’s status. Therefore, the July order is the latest procedural milestone established by that update—not confirmation of the case’s status on October 8, 2026.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unresolved in the public account?
- The outcome of the scheduled August 31, 2026 court appearance and any later procedural developments are not established by the cited official update.
- The prosecution’s allegations have not been established as facts by a verdict in the information cited here.
- The September 2025 report’s account of a deferred cause-of-death determination is historical; it does not establish the medical examiner’s later position.
Unverified social-media theories, purported personal connections, leaked material, and tabloid claims should not be treated as established facts. The cited official updates provide the basis for the charges and court milestone described above.
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Sources
- Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, April 20, 2026 announcement
- Los Angeles County, July 27, 2026 update
- Rolling Stone, September 19, 2025 discovery-era report
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