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A Los Angeles judge ordered David Anthony Burke, the singer known as D4vd, to stand trial on charges that include murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Burke has pleaded not guilty. The ruling followed a preliminary hearing; it is not a conviction, and the charges remain allegations.
The phrase “investigation into murder,” which appeared in 2025 reporting about the case, described how LAPD characterized its probe at that stage. It was not a finding that Burke was guilty.
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What happened in the case?
Prosecutors say Rivas Hernandez’s remains were found on September 8, 2025, in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke. The car had been impounded after it was reported abandoned. Registration connects the vehicle to Burke; by itself, it does not establish who committed a crime.
In November 2025, the Los Angeles Times reported that LAPD detective Joshua Byers used the phrase “investigation into murder” in a court declaration. A judge granted the department’s request for a security hold on medical examiner records. That language described the investigation, not a verdict or a jury’s finding.
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Where does the criminal case stand?
Burke was arrested on suspicion of murder on April 16, 2026, and formally charged on April 20, according to the Associated Press. He pleaded not guilty. His defense said he did not cause Rivas Hernandez’s death.
After a five-day preliminary hearing that concluded in July, a judge ordered Burke to stand trial. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said prosecutors called 12 witnesses. The charges include murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains, as well as special-circumstance allegations. A preliminary-hearing ruling allows the case to proceed; it does not decide guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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What was the latest court update?
On August 31, 2026, the Associated Press reported that Burke entered a new not-guilty plea. His private attorneys withdrew after the court found him eligible for appointed counsel, and a status conference was scheduled for October. The outcome of that conference is not established by the latest specific court update available here, so no later result should be inferred.
What is known about the cause of death?
The Associated Press reported that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined Rivas Hernandez died from stab wounds. That is a finding about cause of death; it does not identify who caused it or resolve the criminal charges.
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How to read the prosecutor’s claims
The DA’s office has described its theory and evidence as part of the prosecution’s case. Those claims should be understood as allegations, not established facts. The county’s release states: “The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”
The key distinction is between an investigative description, a charge, and a trial outcome. The “investigation into murder” wording belonged to the first stage; the July 2026 ruling moved the case toward trial. Neither, on its own, is a conviction.
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