A dismembered body, newly revealed DNA evidence, and a 𝓈𝒽𝓸𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 discovery of 𝒻𝒶𝓀𝑒 blood have dominated the preliminary hearing for singer David Anthony Burke, accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors painted a gruesome picture in court today, presenting evidence that Burke killed the teenager and then went to extreme lengths to conceal her remains. The hearing, now in its third day, has 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓭 layers of forensic detail that both strengthen the prosecution’s case and open the door for defense skepticism.
Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Grant Hoe took the stand late in the day, describing the state of decomposition of the victim’s remains. He testified that when her body was weighed, it came out to just 71 pounds.
The remains were found in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla on September 8, two days before the autopsy. Hoe confirmed that the victim still had her braces on, a detail that underscored her youth and helped make a positive identification through dental records. The victim’s parents left the courtroom before his testimony, unable to endure the graphic details.
The prosecution has leaned heavily on DNA evidence, with LAPD criminalist Samantha Tosh providing statistical probabilities that seem nearly irrefutable. She described DNA matches from the Tesla, from a trash bag containing wipes, and from a toenail that matched Celeste. Yet defense attorney Blair Burke challenged the reliability of those findings, raising the possibility of tertiary transfer—how DNA can be moved from one surface to another through indirect contact.
The criminalist acknowledged that such transfers are possible, planting doubt in what initially appeared to be a solid evidentiary foundation.
Cell phone and Tesla data also came under scrutiny. An LAPD expert testified that both the car and the phone moved in tandem along a route from Burke’s Hollywood Hills home toward Santa Barbara, near where the victim’s passport card was later found.
But the defense seized on the absence of direct evidence tying Burke to the driver’s seat. There is no video, no fingerprint on the steering wheel, no data proving he was the one using the phone. The expert conceded that the car and phone could have been separated by as much as 100 feet, leaving room for doubt.
Perhaps the most unexpected revelation of the day came from the discovery of jugs of 𝒻𝒶𝓀𝑒 blood in Burke’s garage. Investigators tested the red liquid and found it negative for real blood. According to testimony, the 𝒻𝒶𝓀𝑒 blood was used for music merchandise being created in the garage.
This detail could provide a narrative for the defense—that other suspicious items, such as a burn cage, chainsaw, or fireproof mat, were not necessarily evidence of a crime but props for music videos. Burke’s own music videos have featured him wearing white shirts stained with what appears to be 𝒻𝒶𝓀𝑒 blood.
David Anthony Burke, 21, known by his stage name D4vd, appeared emotionless throughout much of the day.
He sat motionless, shackled at the waist and feet, wearing an orange jumpsuit. Unlike the charming, cooperative figure seen in body camera footage from the night Celeste was reported missing, the defendant now seems distant and disengaged. Courtroom sketch artist Mona Edwards described him as “off on a different plane.”
At one point, he laughed and smiled with his attorneys after lunch, a moment that struck observers as jarring given the gravity of the proceedings.
The tension in the courtroom extended beyond the evidence. The judge scolded members of the media for violating rules, and one journalist was briefly ejected before being allowed to return tomorrow.
Attorneys for both sides have been on edge, with the prosecution pushing to establish probable cause and the defense seeking to puncture every piece of evidence. The hearing, which began Tuesday, could extend into Monday as more witnesses are called.
The key question remains: what direct proof exists that David Anthony Burke is the one who killed Celeste Rivas Hernandez?
The prosecution has built a circumstantial case with compelling statistics, but the defense is methodically creating gaps. The possibility that someone else could have driven his car, used his phone, or handled items in his garage is not yet ruled out. The medical examiner’s testimony will continue tomorrow, likely offering more harrowing details about the victim’s injuries and cause of death.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was 14 years old at the time of her death. She had allegedly been in a romantic relationship with Burke, who was 21. Her remains were discovered in the trunk of his Tesla after she was reported missing from Lake Elsinore in Riverside County.
The case has drawn national attention not only because of the singer’s fame but also because of the brutality of the crime. The victim’s family has been present in court, often leaving during the most graphic testimony.
As the hearing continues, both sides are rehearsing for a potential trial.
The threshold now is low—probable cause—but the defense is already building the infrastructure for a beyond-reasonable-doubt argument. Every witness, every data point, every DNA statistic is being tested. The 𝒻𝒶𝓀𝑒 blood, the cell phone tower data, the burn cage, all may have innocent explanations.
Yet for those in the courtroom, the overall weight of evidence feels heavy. The next few days will determine whether the case moves forward to a jury.