Photo screenshot: Internet Anarchist YOUTUBE/D4VD Is Facing The Death Penalty...
D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, returns to court next week for a preliminary hearing. The hearing will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to take his case to trial. It begins July 21 and centers on the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told KTLA the hearing is expected to run between three and seven days. Prosecutors plan to present evidence supporting a charge of first-degree murder with special circumstances. They also plan to pursue a charge of lewd and lascivious conduct. A judge will use the hearing to decide whether enough evidence exists to hold Burke for trial.
What evidence prosecutors plan to present against D4vd
Hochman said the evidence will be extensive. It will trace Celeste’s movements starting the night in April 2025 when prosecutors allege she was killed. The evidence continues through September 2025, when investigators found her body dismembered inside multiple bags. They discovered the bags in the front trunk of a Tesla. Prosecutors allege Celeste was lured to Burke’s Hollywood Hills home. They say Burke killed her after she threatened to expose their relationship, a disclosure they claim could have damaged his music career.
Burke’s attorney, Blair Berk, has previously said the actual evidence will show her client did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Burke has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges. He remains in custody without bail.
Whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty against D4vd
Hochman addressed the death penalty question directly. He explained that his office evaluates capital punishment the same way it does in any eligible case. That process includes weighing aggravating and mitigating factors. His team also consults with Burke’s legal representatives and speaks with Celeste’s family. Senior attorneys in his office who have handled death penalty cases review the case as well. Once that review concludes, Hochman said his office will notify both the court and Burke whether it intends to pursue the death penalty.
A song controversy surfaces as the case continues
While Burke awaits trial, a song attributed to him briefly appeared on Spotify this week. The track, titled Marcescence, stayed live for roughly eight hours Thursday before it was removed. The artwork showed Burke holding a camera in a bathroom mirror. A companion music video also appeared on Spotify before being archived. A fan account later reposted the video on YouTube.
It remains unclear who uploaded the song or whether Burke had any involvement in its release. No connection between the song and the ongoing case has been established. Still, the timing has drawn attention given his current legal situation.
SOURCE: KTLA
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