In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we examine the forensic case against recording artist D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, following his five-day preliminary hearing.
Fourteen-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found dead inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke in September 2025. During the hearing, prosecutors presented autopsy findings, DNA evidence, suspected bloodstains, a damaged inflatable pool, chainsaw purchases, Tesla location records and thousands of messages recovered from Burke’s phone and iCloud account.
We also examine the limitations raised by his defense, including questions about evidence collection, DNA transfer, presumptive blood testing, the unidentified murder weapon and whether the digital evidence proves who was driving the Tesla.
A judge ultimately determined that prosecutors presented sufficient probable cause for the case to proceed to trial. Burke has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Content warning: This episode discusses the death and alleged sexual abuse of a minor. Some graphic details have been omitted.
Episode sources:
Los Angeles County District Attorney:
https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/d4vd-ordered-stand-trial-murdering-dismembering-14-year-old-girl
Associated Press:
https://apnews.com/article/65647a24c7808bebc0b6ff9040f50615
ABC7 Los Angeles:
https://abc7.com/post/d4vd-murder-case-singers-lawyers-ask-more-dna-testing-wasnt-done-chain-saws-car-celeste-rivas-hernandez-killing/19564190/
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https://forensictales.com
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