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D4vd sat motionless in a Los Angeles courtroom as a prosecutor revealed Thursday that his iCloud account, which had been seized by investigators, contains “significant amounts of child pornography”.
Despite this explosive revelation, the platinum artist, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, and his lawyers signaled that they continue to push for a speedy preliminary investigation into his first-degree murder case. The judge then set a follow-up date for April 29 to clarify the evidence. The first day of the preliminary investigation – a kind of mini-trial in which evidence is examined publicly – was set for May 1st.
“It was an eye-opening hearing,” defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski said in court, concluding Burke’s second appearance before a judge. Burke’s other lawyer, Blair Berk, put a hand on his shoulder before Judge Charlaine Olmedo warned Burke not to miss the bus from prison to his next appointment – after all, his right to a preliminary hearing is within 10 days of arraignment.
Arrest and accusations
Burke was arrested last week and charged Monday with the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old California girl who was found dismembered and badly decomposed in the front trunk of his towed Tesla last September.
On Thursday, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman revealed that investigators had obtained telephone surveillance as part of their investigation and three grand juries “were convened to investigate – not to indict, but to investigate.” These would have met in November, December and February.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County morgue released a long-awaited autopsy report concluding that Rivas died of “multiple penetrating injuries” to his upper abdomen. The 26-page report describes two stab wounds – one in the right abdomen that perforated the liver and another in the left chest that penetrated an intercostal space. “The cause of death was multiple penetrating injuries. The manner of death is classified as a homicide,” it said. Accordingly, the cause of death was determined on December 9, 2025.
Autopsy findings in detail
Toxicology tests revealed low levels of ethanol, which did not appear to have contributed to Rivas’ death, as well as “presumptive” positive results for benzodiazepines, methamphetamine and MDMA, which require further confirmation.
The report was released after law enforcement previously obtained a court order barring its release – a move the coroner’s office opposed because it hindered transparency. “After several months, I am grateful that this information can now be published,” said Chief Coroner Dr. Odey Ukpo in a statement. “It is inconceivable that [Rivas‘ Eltern] “We had to wait so long to find out what happened to her daughter.”
The findings provide further details about the condition of the remains. According to the report, Rivas’ limbs were “dismembered into multiple fragments,” her head was “partially skeletonized” with a missing eye, and the soft tissue showed signs of “liquefaction.” Taking a fingerprint was not possible “due to soggy fingers”.
Discovery of the body
Rivas’ body was discovered seven months ago in two black bags hidden in the front trunk of the Tesla after the vehicle was towed from an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood. The authorities had said little about the investigation during this time.
Burke was charged with one count of first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances, including ambush and financial gain, and separate counts of sexual conduct with a minor and mutilation of human remains. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. Prosecutors say Rivas was last seen on April 23, 2025, entering Burke’s home in the Hollywood Hills and did not report afterward. She believes she was killed that day and her body mutilated around May 5th.
The autopsy report also documents the preservation of evidence: investigators wiped the handles and zippers of the bags in which the remains were kept and seized “small blue plastic parts” at the interfaces on the arms and legs.
Burke’s lawyers said in a statement that their client “did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and was not the cause of her death.”
