On the second day of a preliminary hearing for David Anthony Burke, the 21-year-old singer known as D4vd, forensic experts provided chilling testimony regarding the evidence found in his vehicle and home. The court heard detailed accounts from Los Angeles Police Department criminalists who processed the singer’s Tesla Model X following the discovery of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains. The testimony painted a grim picture of the scene, highlighting what prosecutors suggest were desperate attempts to conceal a gruesome crime.
What happened
LAPD criminalist Chelsea Murillo testified that the interior of Burke’s Tesla was heavily outfitted with air fresheners. At least 11 of these items were recovered from the car, primarily located in the center console and the pockets of the rear seats. One specific Febreze pod was discovered in the vehicle’s front trunk, or “frunk,” buried beneath a mass of fly larvae near where the victim’s body had been hidden. Murillo noted a “strong odor” of decomposition during the vehicle’s processing on September 9, 2025, just one day after the remains were found.
The victim’s dismembered remains were discovered inside two black plastic bags tucked into a storage compartment in the front trunk. Forensic teams also used Bluestar, a chemical agent that detects trace amounts of blood, to inspect the car. This process revealed glowing traces in the rear trunk and near the third-row seating. Furthermore, LAPD criminologist Lauren Wallace testified that similar traces were found in the garage of Burke’s rental home, specifically on rubber floor mats, a rowing machine, and a tarp. Investigators also recovered an inflatable pool that Wallace noted smelled of laundry and had dryer sheets stuck to it, which prosecutors believe was used during the dismemberment of the victim.
Context
The case against Burke centers on the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was 14 at the time of her disappearance in April 2025. According to prosecutors, Burke allegedly murdered the teenager to conceal sexual abuse and protect his burgeoning music career. Testimony from an Interscope Records executive revealed that Burke was a highly lucrative artist for the label, earning approximately $3.9 million in 2023 and $2.3 million in 2025 before his contract was terminated following the allegations.
The physical evidence presented in court was harrowing. Detective Joshua Byers testified that the level of decomposition made the victim unrecognizable, requiring DNA and other forensic methods for identification. Adding to the weight of the prosecution’s case, Byers noted that at the time of his arrest, Burke had the name “Celeste” tattooed in red ink on his left ring finger. Burke has pleaded not guilty to the charges, while his defense team has focused on questioning the thoroughness of the DNA testing performed on the vehicle’s exterior and items seized from his home.
Why it matters
This preliminary hearing is a critical phase in the legal process, as a judge must determine if the prosecution has gathered sufficient evidence to proceed to a full trial. The testimony regarding the air fresheners and the laundry-scented pool suggests a premeditated effort to hide the physical and olfactory evidence of a violent crime. For the family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the proceedings have been understandably agonizing; her mother was seen in the courtroom visibly distraught as graphic photos of the evidence were displayed.
Beyond the immediate legal implications for Burke, the case has sent shockwaves through the music industry, highlighting how quickly a high-profile career can collapse under the weight of criminal allegations. As the hearing continues over the coming days, the court will weigh the forensic findings against the defense’s claims of investigative gaps to decide whether David Anthony Burke will face a jury for the murder of the 14-year-old.