LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Singer D4vd made his first court appearance Monday and entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was discovered inside the musician’s towed Tesla last year. The murder charge carries special circumstances that could make D4vd eligible for the death penalty if convicted, significantly elevating the severity of the legal proceedings now formally underway against the 21-year-old artist.
D4vd Pleads Not Guilty to First-Degree Murder in First Court Appearance
Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, appeared in court Monday for the first time since his arrest in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. During the appearance, D4vd entered a not guilty plea to the first-degree murder charge filed against him in connection with the killing of the 14-year-old victim.
The first court appearance marked the formal beginning of the legal process against D4vd, bringing the case into the courtroom after his earlier arrest by the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division where he had been held without bail.
Murder Charge Carries Special Circumstances — Death Penalty Possible
The first-degree murder charge filed against D4vd includes special circumstances, a designation under California law that elevates the severity of the charge and opens the possibility of the death penalty as a potential punishment if D4vd is ultimately convicted. The inclusion of special circumstances in the murder charge signaled that prosecutors viewed the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez as warranting the most serious level of criminal accountability available under California law.
The special circumstances designation made D4vd’s case one of the most serious criminal proceedings involving a public figure in recent Los Angeles legal history.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez Was 14 Years Old — Body Found Dismembered in Towed Tesla
The victim at the center of the case, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was just 14 years old at the time of her death. Her dismembered body was discovered inside the trunk of D4vd’s Tesla after the vehicle was towed and brought to a yard, where a strong odor led to the discovery of her remains placed inside a bag within the vehicle.
Hernandez had been reported missing from her home in Lake Elsinore and was last seen in April 2024. The case remains actively developing as the formal court proceedings against D4vd now move forward following Monday’s not guilty plea. Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest updates and detailed coverage.
Leave a Reply