American singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has been ordered to stand trial after a judge found there was sufficient evidence for prosecutors to move forward with multiple criminal charges against him.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by Judge Charlaine Olmedo following a five-day preliminary hearing in which prosecutors presented evidence relating to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Burke, 21, has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty under applicable law.
According to prosecutors, Burke allegedly began a sexual relationship with Hernandez when she was 13 years old. They claim the teenager later threatened to expose the relationship shortly before her death.
During the hearing, prosecutors introduced text messages they said were sent by Hernandez in the days leading up to the incident, arguing they demonstrated escalating tensions between the pair.
Investigators also presented evidence alleging that Burke invited Hernandez to his home shortly before she died. Prosecutors further claimed records showed purchases of items they believe are relevant to the investigation.
Authorities previously said Hernandez’s body was discovered in September 2025 inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke after the vehicle was towed to an impound facility in Hollywood.
Burke’s defence team disputed the prosecution’s account, arguing there was no evidence of a deliberate intent to kill. Defence lawyer Blair Berk also contended that the teenager had a history of mental health struggles and had exhibited violent behaviour toward the singer.
Prosecutor Beth Silverman rejected those arguments, maintaining that the evidence did not support the claim that the death was accidental. An attorney representing Hernandez’s family also criticised attempts to shift responsibility onto the victim.
The court is expected to hold another hearing on Friday to determine the schedule for Burke’s trial. The case remains before the court, and the allegations have not yet been tested at trial.
