가수 D4vd의 14세 소녀 살해 사건 증거, 며칠 내 법정에서 공개될 예정
Evidence against singer D4vd in killing of 14-year-old girl will be revealed in court within days
Associated Press
· 🇺🇸 New York, US
https://apnews.com/author/andrew-dalton
EN
2026-04-24 10:10
Translated
셀레스테 리바스 에르난데스(14세)는 가수 D4vd가 살해 혐의를 받고 있는 소녀로, 수요일 공개된 부검 보고서에 따르면 관통 손상으로 사망했다. (4월 22일)
법명이 데이비드 버크인 가수 D4vd는 월요일 14세 소녀의 사망 사건으로 살인 혐의에 무죄를 주장했다. 그의 테슬라 자동차에서 9월에 발견된 소녀의 훼손되고 부패한 시신과 관련된 사건이다. 버크는 월요일 법정에서 유리벽 뒤에서 출석했다. (AP 비디오: Rick Taber)
LAPD 짐 맥도넬 국장은 월요일 2026년 4월 20일 로스앤젤레스에서 자동차에서 발견된 훼손된 시신의 14세 소녀 살해 혐의로 기소된 가수 D4vd 사건에 관한 기자회견 후 셀레스테 리바스 에르난데스의 사진 앞을 지나고 있다. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
법정 스케치에서 무대명이 D4vd인 데이비드 앤서니 버크가 2026년 4월 23일 목요일 로스앤젤레스 법정에서 자동차에서 발견된 훼손된 시신의 14세 소녀 살해 혐의로 출석하고 있다. (Bill Robles via AP)
데이비드 앤서니 버크(무대명 D4vd)가 2026년 4월 20일 월요일 로스앤젤레스에서 자동차에서 발견된 훼손된 시신의 14세 소녀 살해 혐의로 기소되어 법정에 출석했다. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
로스앤젤레스 (AP) — 가수 D4vd의 변호인들은 목요일 검사들이 어떤 증거를 가지고 있는지 공개하도록 강력히 주장했고, 판사는 셀레스테 리바스 에르난데스의 살해 및 시신 훼손 사건에 대해 증거를 공개적으로 제시하기 위한 청문회를 다음 주로 정했다.
법명이 데이비드 버크인 21세 가수는 목요일 작은 로스앤젤레스 법정에서 주황색 교도소 복장을 입고 변호인들 옆에 앉아 있었으며, 이는 리바스 에르난데스(캘리포니아 레이크 엘시노어 출신 14세)가 마지막으로 생존한 것으로 알려진 정확히 1년 후였다.
버크는 수갑을 찬 채로 법정에 들어왔고 그가 앉자 수갑이 풀렸다. 그는 대법관 샬레인 F. 올메도에게 하는 절차 질문에 "예, 판사님"이라고만 말했으며, 올메도 판사는 5월 1일에 시작될 4~5일간의 예비 증거 청문회를 정했다. 그녀는 버크를 재판에 넘길 상당한 이유가 있는지 결정할 것이다.
부검사 베스 실버만은 검찰이 방대한 증거를 가지고 있으며 여기에는 영장으로 버크의 휴대폰에서 취득한 아동 성학대 이미지가 포함되어 있고, 이는 신중하게 다루어야 한다고 말했다.
"나는 그러한 유형의 자료를 넘길 수 없습니다."라고 실버만이 말했다.
하지만 그녀는 검찰이 일반적으로 피고인이 체포되고 기소된 지 몇 개월 후에 발생하는 청문회에 대해 매우 촉박한 일정으로 진행하는 것에 동의한다고 말했다.
"오늘은 셀레스테 사망 정확히 1년입니다"라고 검사가 말했다. "우리는 이 사건을 재판에 넘기기를 간절히 원합니다."
버크는 4월 16일 체포되었으며 월요일 1급 살인, 14세 미만자에 대한 음란하고 수치스러운 행위, 시신 훼손 혐의에 무죄를 주장했다.
그의 변호인들은 목요일 청문회에서 증거 교환에 대해서만 언급했고 법정 외에서는 댓글을 거부했다. 그러나 기소 공판에서 변호사 블레어 베르크는 판사에게 "실제 증거가 데이비드 버크가 셀레스테 리바스 에르난데스를 살해하지 않았음을 보여줄 것이라고 우리는 믿습니다"라고 말했다.
드문 사례로, 가수는 기소 후 10개 법정일 이내에 예비 증거 청문회를 갖는 캘리포니아의 권리를 행사하고 있다. 그의 변호인들이 이 전략을 추구하는 정확한 이유는 완전히 명확하지 않다. 베르크는 이전 법정에서 사건에 수집된 모든 비밀 증거로 인해 그들은 단순히 그것을 보고 싶다고 말했다.
리바스 에르난데스의 시신은 머리와 팔이 잘려나간 채로 두 개의 가방에 들어있는 상태로 버크 명의로 등록된 것으로 보이는 버려진 테슬라 자동차에서 발견되었으며, 이 자동차는 그가 투어 중이던 동안 할리우드 힐스에서 견인되었다.
수요일 공개된 부검 보고서에서 LA 카운티 의료 검사관은 그녀가 상체에 두 개의 관통 상처로 사망했다고 판정했다. 부패한 시신으로 인해 검사가 어려웠다. 수사관들은 그녀가 상처를 입은 방법을 결정하지 못했으며, 회수된 무기가 없다고 보고서는 말했다.
검사들은 버크가 13세부터 적어도 1년 동안 리바스 에르난데스를 성적으로 학대했으며, 2025년 4월 23일경에 그녀가 그 관계를 신고하겠다고 위협한 후 그녀를 살해했고, 약 2주일 후 시신을 훼손했다고 주장한다.
실버만은 증거에 휴대폰 및 iCloud 계정의 내용, 많은 영장에서 압수된 항목 및 대량의 법의학 자료가 포함된다고 말했다. 그리고 여기에는 세 개의 서로 다른 대배심에 제시된 증인 증언이 포함되어 있으며, 그 존재를 목요일 처음으로 공개적으로 확인했다.
실버만은 소환 권한이 있는 대배심이 단지 수사 목적으로만 소집되었다고 말했다. 변호사들과 법정 관찰자들은 버크 체포 전에 대배심 기소장이 발부되지 않은 이유에 대해 의문을 제기했다.
"유익한 청문회였습니다"라고 변호사 베르크가 판사에게 말했다.
소녀의 부모인 예수스 리바스와 메르세데스 마르티네스는 화요일 사건에 대한 첫 공식 성명을 발표했으며, 그들의 딸을 "노래하고 춤추기를 좋아하는 아름답고 강한 소녀"라고 부르며 "우리가 원하는 모든 것은 셀레스테를 위한 정의입니다"라고 말했다.
D4vd(발음: "David")는 인디 록, R&B 및 로파이 팝의 혼합으로 젊은 팬들 사이에서 인기를 얻었다. 그는 2022년 TikTok에서 빌보드의 핫 록 & 얼터너티브 송 차트 4위까지 올라간 히트곡 "Romantic Homicide"로 바이럴되었다. 그는 2023년 데뷔 EP "Petals to Thorns"와 후속작 "The Lost Petals"를 발표했다. 그의 데뷔 풀 길이 앨범 "Withered"는 2025년에 발표되었다.
법명이 데이비드 버크인 가수 D4vd는 월요일 14세 소녀의 사망 사건으로 살인 혐의에 무죄를 주장했다. 그의 테슬라 자동차에서 9월에 발견된 소녀의 훼손되고 부패한 시신과 관련된 사건이다. 버크는 월요일 법정에서 유리벽 뒤에서 출석했다. (AP 비디오: Rick Taber)
LAPD 짐 맥도넬 국장은 월요일 2026년 4월 20일 로스앤젤레스에서 자동차에서 발견된 훼손된 시신의 14세 소녀 살해 혐의로 기소된 가수 D4vd 사건에 관한 기자회견 후 셀레스테 리바스 에르난데스의 사진 앞을 지나고 있다. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
법정 스케치에서 무대명이 D4vd인 데이비드 앤서니 버크가 2026년 4월 23일 목요일 로스앤젤레스 법정에서 자동차에서 발견된 훼손된 시신의 14세 소녀 살해 혐의로 출석하고 있다. (Bill Robles via AP)
데이비드 앤서니 버크(무대명 D4vd)가 2026년 4월 20일 월요일 로스앤젤레스에서 자동차에서 발견된 훼손된 시신의 14세 소녀 살해 혐의로 기소되어 법정에 출석했다. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
로스앤젤레스 (AP) — 가수 D4vd의 변호인들은 목요일 검사들이 어떤 증거를 가지고 있는지 공개하도록 강력히 주장했고, 판사는 셀레스테 리바스 에르난데스의 살해 및 시신 훼손 사건에 대해 증거를 공개적으로 제시하기 위한 청문회를 다음 주로 정했다.
법명이 데이비드 버크인 21세 가수는 목요일 작은 로스앤젤레스 법정에서 주황색 교도소 복장을 입고 변호인들 옆에 앉아 있었으며, 이는 리바스 에르난데스(캘리포니아 레이크 엘시노어 출신 14세)가 마지막으로 생존한 것으로 알려진 정확히 1년 후였다.
버크는 수갑을 찬 채로 법정에 들어왔고 그가 앉자 수갑이 풀렸다. 그는 대법관 샬레인 F. 올메도에게 하는 절차 질문에 "예, 판사님"이라고만 말했으며, 올메도 판사는 5월 1일에 시작될 4~5일간의 예비 증거 청문회를 정했다. 그녀는 버크를 재판에 넘길 상당한 이유가 있는지 결정할 것이다.
부검사 베스 실버만은 검찰이 방대한 증거를 가지고 있으며 여기에는 영장으로 버크의 휴대폰에서 취득한 아동 성학대 이미지가 포함되어 있고, 이는 신중하게 다루어야 한다고 말했다.
"나는 그러한 유형의 자료를 넘길 수 없습니다."라고 실버만이 말했다.
하지만 그녀는 검찰이 일반적으로 피고인이 체포되고 기소된 지 몇 개월 후에 발생하는 청문회에 대해 매우 촉박한 일정으로 진행하는 것에 동의한다고 말했다.
"오늘은 셀레스테 사망 정확히 1년입니다"라고 검사가 말했다. "우리는 이 사건을 재판에 넘기기를 간절히 원합니다."
버크는 4월 16일 체포되었으며 월요일 1급 살인, 14세 미만자에 대한 음란하고 수치스러운 행위, 시신 훼손 혐의에 무죄를 주장했다.
그의 변호인들은 목요일 청문회에서 증거 교환에 대해서만 언급했고 법정 외에서는 댓글을 거부했다. 그러나 기소 공판에서 변호사 블레어 베르크는 판사에게 "실제 증거가 데이비드 버크가 셀레스테 리바스 에르난데스를 살해하지 않았음을 보여줄 것이라고 우리는 믿습니다"라고 말했다.
드문 사례로, 가수는 기소 후 10개 법정일 이내에 예비 증거 청문회를 갖는 캘리포니아의 권리를 행사하고 있다. 그의 변호인들이 이 전략을 추구하는 정확한 이유는 완전히 명확하지 않다. 베르크는 이전 법정에서 사건에 수집된 모든 비밀 증거로 인해 그들은 단순히 그것을 보고 싶다고 말했다.
리바스 에르난데스의 시신은 머리와 팔이 잘려나간 채로 두 개의 가방에 들어있는 상태로 버크 명의로 등록된 것으로 보이는 버려진 테슬라 자동차에서 발견되었으며, 이 자동차는 그가 투어 중이던 동안 할리우드 힐스에서 견인되었다.
수요일 공개된 부검 보고서에서 LA 카운티 의료 검사관은 그녀가 상체에 두 개의 관통 상처로 사망했다고 판정했다. 부패한 시신으로 인해 검사가 어려웠다. 수사관들은 그녀가 상처를 입은 방법을 결정하지 못했으며, 회수된 무기가 없다고 보고서는 말했다.
검사들은 버크가 13세부터 적어도 1년 동안 리바스 에르난데스를 성적으로 학대했으며, 2025년 4월 23일경에 그녀가 그 관계를 신고하겠다고 위협한 후 그녀를 살해했고, 약 2주일 후 시신을 훼손했다고 주장한다.
실버만은 증거에 휴대폰 및 iCloud 계정의 내용, 많은 영장에서 압수된 항목 및 대량의 법의학 자료가 포함된다고 말했다. 그리고 여기에는 세 개의 서로 다른 대배심에 제시된 증인 증언이 포함되어 있으며, 그 존재를 목요일 처음으로 공개적으로 확인했다.
실버만은 소환 권한이 있는 대배심이 단지 수사 목적으로만 소집되었다고 말했다. 변호사들과 법정 관찰자들은 버크 체포 전에 대배심 기소장이 발부되지 않은 이유에 대해 의문을 제기했다.
"유익한 청문회였습니다"라고 변호사 베르크가 판사에게 말했다.
소녀의 부모인 예수스 리바스와 메르세데스 마르티네스는 화요일 사건에 대한 첫 공식 성명을 발표했으며, 그들의 딸을 "노래하고 춤추기를 좋아하는 아름답고 강한 소녀"라고 부르며 "우리가 원하는 모든 것은 셀레스테를 위한 정의입니다"라고 말했다.
D4vd(발음: "David")는 인디 록, R&B 및 로파이 팝의 혼합으로 젊은 팬들 사이에서 인기를 얻었다. 그는 2022년 TikTok에서 빌보드의 핫 록 & 얼터너티브 송 차트 4위까지 올라간 히트곡 "Romantic Homicide"로 바이럴되었다. 그는 2023년 데뷔 EP "Petals to Thorns"와 후속작 "The Lost Petals"를 발표했다. 그의 데뷔 풀 길이 앨범 "Withered"는 2025년에 발표되었다.
처리 완료
5,640 tokens · $0.0140
기사 수집 완료 · 10:10
매체 피드에서 기사 메타데이터 수집
헤드라인 번역 완료 · 11:05
제목/요약 한국어 번역 (fetch 시점 inline)
kimi-k2.5
0 tokens
$0.00000
0.4s
본문 추출 완료
8,766자 추출 완료
본문 한국어 번역 완료 · 11:05
2,852자 번역 완료
claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
5,640 tokens
$0.01404
29.5s
지정학적 엔티티 추출 완료 · 11:05
4개 엔티티 추출 완료
지정학적 맥락 & R-Scanner
R-Scanner · 상승
z=1.26
평소보다 보도량이 증가 추세 — 기준: Los Angeles
(🇺🇸 US)
최근 6시간 51건
7일 평균 42.68건 / 6h
11개국 매체
14개 매체
본문에서 추출된 지명 (4)
위치 지도
지도 로딩 중…
같은 주제의 다른 기사 (최근 7일)
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl, singer D4vd is charged with killing, died from penetrating injuries, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday. (Apr 22)
Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered and decomposed body was found in September in his Tesla. Burke appeared behind glass in court Monday (AP Video: Rick Taber)
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell walks past an image of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles after a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl, singer D4vd is charged with killing, died from penetrating injuries, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday. (Apr 22)
Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered and decomposed body was found in September in his Tesla. Burke appeared behind glass in court Monday (AP Video: Rick Taber)
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell walks past an image of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles after a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell walks past an image of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles after a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lawyers for singer D4vd insisted Thursday on forcing prosecutors to show what evidence they have, and a judge set a hearing for next week for them to lay it out publicly in the killing and dismemberment of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The 21-year-old whose legal name is David Burke appeared in a small Los Angeles courtroom in orange jail clothes sitting next to his attorneys, exactly one year after authorities say Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, was last known to be alive.
Burke was brought into court wearing handcuffs that were removed when he sat. He spoke only to say “yes, ma’am” to a procedural question from Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo, who set the four-to-five-day preliminary evidentiary hearing to start May 1. She will determine whether there is probable cause to send Burke to trial.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said the prosecution has voluminous evidence that will take time to share, including child sex abuse images taken from Burke’s phone with a warrant that must be handled sensitively.
“I cannot turn that type of materials over,” Silverman said.
But she said the prosecution is fine with working on an incredibly tight timeline for the hearing, which usually comes many months after defendants are arrested and charged.
“Today it’s been exactly one year since the death of Celeste,” the prosecutor said. “We’re eager to set this case for trial.”
Burke was arrested on April 16 and pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 and mutilating a dead body.
His lawyers spoke only about the exchange of evidence at Thursday’s hearing and declined to comment outside court. But at his arraignment, defense attorney Blair Berk told a judge, “We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.”
In a rare move, the singer is exercising his right in California to have the preliminary evidence hearing within 10 court days of his arraignment. It is not entirely clear why his lawyers are pursuing the strategy. Berk said in court previously that with all the secret evidence gathered in the case, they simply want it seen.
The body of Rivas Hernandez, with the head and arms cut off, was found in two bags in a seemingly abandoned Tesla registered to Burke that was towed from the Hollywood Hills while he was on tour.
In an autopsy report unsealed Wednesday, the LA County Medical Examiner determined that she died from two penetrating wounds to her upper body. The decomposing body made the examination difficult. Investigators did not determine how she got the wounds, and no weapon was recovered, the report said.
Prosecutors allege Burke had been sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez for at least a year starting when she was 13; killed her on or around April 23, 2025, after she threatened to report the relationship; and dismembered her body about two weeks later.
Silverman said the evidence includes the contents of his phone and iCloud accounts, items seized from many search warrants and a huge amount of forensic material. And it includes witness testimony given to three different grand juries, whose existence she confirmed for the first time publicly Thursday.
Silverman said the grand juries, which have subpoena power, were called only for investigative reasons. Defense attorneys and court observers have questioned why no grand jury indictment was issued against Burke before his arrest.
“It’s been an informative hearing,” Berk, the defense attorney, told the judge.
The girl’s parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, made their first public statement in the case on Tuesday, calling their daughter “a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance” and saying “All we want is justice for Celeste.”
D4vd, pronounced “David,” gained popularity among young fans for his blend of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop. He went viral on TikTok in 2022 with the hit “Romantic Homicide,” which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. He released his debut EP “Petals to Thorns” and a follow-up, “The Lost Petals,” in 2023. His debut full-length album, “Withered,” was released in 2025.
Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered and decomposed body was found in September in his Tesla. Burke appeared behind glass in court Monday (AP Video: Rick Taber)
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell walks past an image of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles after a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl, singer D4vd is charged with killing, died from penetrating injuries, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday. (Apr 22)
Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered and decomposed body was found in September in his Tesla. Burke appeared behind glass in court Monday (AP Video: Rick Taber)
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell walks past an image of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles after a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell walks past an image of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles after a press conference regarding the case of singer D4vd, who was charged on suspicion of killing the 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is seen in court Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Bill Robles via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd, is arraigned Monday, April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles on charges of killing a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his car. (Ted Soqui/Pool Photo via AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lawyers for singer D4vd insisted Thursday on forcing prosecutors to show what evidence they have, and a judge set a hearing for next week for them to lay it out publicly in the killing and dismemberment of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The 21-year-old whose legal name is David Burke appeared in a small Los Angeles courtroom in orange jail clothes sitting next to his attorneys, exactly one year after authorities say Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, was last known to be alive.
Burke was brought into court wearing handcuffs that were removed when he sat. He spoke only to say “yes, ma’am” to a procedural question from Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo, who set the four-to-five-day preliminary evidentiary hearing to start May 1. She will determine whether there is probable cause to send Burke to trial.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said the prosecution has voluminous evidence that will take time to share, including child sex abuse images taken from Burke’s phone with a warrant that must be handled sensitively.
“I cannot turn that type of materials over,” Silverman said.
But she said the prosecution is fine with working on an incredibly tight timeline for the hearing, which usually comes many months after defendants are arrested and charged.
“Today it’s been exactly one year since the death of Celeste,” the prosecutor said. “We’re eager to set this case for trial.”
Burke was arrested on April 16 and pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 and mutilating a dead body.
His lawyers spoke only about the exchange of evidence at Thursday’s hearing and declined to comment outside court. But at his arraignment, defense attorney Blair Berk told a judge, “We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.”
In a rare move, the singer is exercising his right in California to have the preliminary evidence hearing within 10 court days of his arraignment. It is not entirely clear why his lawyers are pursuing the strategy. Berk said in court previously that with all the secret evidence gathered in the case, they simply want it seen.
The body of Rivas Hernandez, with the head and arms cut off, was found in two bags in a seemingly abandoned Tesla registered to Burke that was towed from the Hollywood Hills while he was on tour.
In an autopsy report unsealed Wednesday, the LA County Medical Examiner determined that she died from two penetrating wounds to her upper body. The decomposing body made the examination difficult. Investigators did not determine how she got the wounds, and no weapon was recovered, the report said.
Prosecutors allege Burke had been sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez for at least a year starting when she was 13; killed her on or around April 23, 2025, after she threatened to report the relationship; and dismembered her body about two weeks later.
Silverman said the evidence includes the contents of his phone and iCloud accounts, items seized from many search warrants and a huge amount of forensic material. And it includes witness testimony given to three different grand juries, whose existence she confirmed for the first time publicly Thursday.
Silverman said the grand juries, which have subpoena power, were called only for investigative reasons. Defense attorneys and court observers have questioned why no grand jury indictment was issued against Burke before his arrest.
“It’s been an informative hearing,” Berk, the defense attorney, told the judge.
The girl’s parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, made their first public statement in the case on Tuesday, calling their daughter “a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance” and saying “All we want is justice for Celeste.”
D4vd, pronounced “David,” gained popularity among young fans for his blend of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop. He went viral on TikTok in 2022 with the hit “Romantic Homicide,” which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. He released his debut EP “Petals to Thorns” and a follow-up, “The Lost Petals,” in 2023. His debut full-length album, “Withered,” was released in 2025.