D4vd murder case: Prosecutors allege ‘significant’ child porn found on singer’s phone
Singer D4vd’s phone contained a “significant amount” of child pornography, prosecutors told the court on Thursday, as the 21-year-old singer spoke publicly for the first time since he was accused of murdering a 14-year-old girl.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He appeared in court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, chained to his chair.
During the hearing, her lawyer Marilyn Bednarski requested that preliminary proceedings be initiated, prompting the singer to briefly address the court.
“Yes, ma’am,” D4vd said after Judge Charlaine F Olmedo outlined her right to proceed with the hearing and asked if she was comfortable with her lawyer handling other cases at the same time.
Prosecutor Beth Silverman told the court investigators uncovered disturbing material on the singer’s phone.
“He had an iPhone and it contained a significant amount of child pornography, and by law child porn cannot be obtained without certain precautions,” he said.
It is not yet known whether the alleged material is linked to the victim.
Ms Silverman added that the contents could not simply be handed over to the defence, explaining: “I cannot hand over such material.”
His lawyer, Ms. Bednarski, said the defense did not expect immediate access to all the evidence, but wanted important information to be released without delay.
“We want basic physical evidence. We believe the court has the authority to control the pre-trial process and proceed without delay. … They arrested Mr. Burke last Thursday and he remains in custody. We see no reason why they would not submit it,” he said.
Prosecutors told the court they expected the preliminary hearing to last four to five days.
Court documents filed earlier this week allege Burke killed Ms. Rivas Hernandez for financial gain and used a “sharp instrument.” Authorities also allege he acted to protect his music career from being harmed by the revelation of an alleged affair with the teenager.
according to Daily MailThe documents also allege that the 14-year-old boy was a potential witness in an investigation and “was deliberately killed because of this fact.”
Rivas Hernandez’s body was found in the front trunk of a Tesla towed from the Hollywood Hills in September last year. It was reported that the vehicle was registered to Burke’s address in Texas.
The autopsy revealed that he had stab wounds in his chest and liver and that some parts of his body were dismembered.
Burke is also charged with repeated lewd acts against a person under the age of 14 and dismemberment of human remains. He has denied all charges and is being held without bail.
Prosecutors allege the teen was subjected to sexual abuse that continued for at least a year, from September 2023 to September 2024.
The case carries the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted.
D4vd rose to fame after going viral on TikTok in 2022, later collaborating with major artists and launching a tour that was canceled after the teenager’s body was found.
He will appear in court again on April 29.
