Gruesome images in D4vd hearing are ‘worst nightmare’ for teen girl’s family

Watch: Preliminary hearing begins in singer D4vd’s murder case

WARNING: Readers may find the details in this article upsetting.

On the opening day of a preliminary hearing in the murder case against the singer, who performs under the stage name D4vd, horrific images of a young girl’s dismembered body were shown in court in front of her horrified parents.

Prosecutors presented crime scene photos showing the body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was found inside a Tesla registered to singer David Anthony Burke in Hollywood, Los Angeles, last year.

A homicide detective testified that Burke, 21, ordered a body bag, chainsaw, inflatable pool and shovel online in the days after Celeste’s death.

Burke pleaded not guilty to charges of killing and sexually assaulting the girl.

The grisly details had previously been described only in court filings. Tuesday’s hearing was the first time evidence and photographs were made public in court.

Although not the case itself, prosecutors are presenting evidence they say ties Burke to Celeste’s death as they try to convince the judge there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

Prosecutors say Burke stabbed Celeste before dismembering her with a chainsaw to conceal the killing following years of allegations of sexual abuse.

They claim he killed her because she threatened to expose his affair with a minor and ruin her multimillion-dollar music career.

For Celeste’s parents, this was an ordeal they had prepared for but never fully anticipated, according to their attorneys.

“This is the first time they have heard this evidence in detail and they are horrified,” the family’s lawyer, Patrick Steinfeld, told the BBC after the hearing.

“There was an image of Celeste’s torso and head in the trunk of the car, and the prosecutor had to ask what it was because you couldn’t tell it was a head. It was absolutely heartbreaking.

“They are at a loss for words and are trying to do the best they can.”

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Celeste’s mother, Mercedes, was warned in advance that the sensational images would be shown, Steinfeld said.

“I told him he didn’t need to be in the courtroom during this part of the hearing,” he said.

“But he said: ‘I want to be here to show my support for Celeste.’ “He lowered his head and started crying.”

He said he advised both parents that once they saw the images, they would never “unsee” them.

“I encouraged them to go out, even if only for a short while, but they decided no; they wanted to be here to show support for their daughter.”

“They are an extremely special family,” he added. “This is a parent’s worst nightmare.”

The small courtroom in downtown Los Angeles was packed long before Tuesday’s hearing began.

Journalists, YouTubers, TikTok creators and members of the public entered the draw for one of the limited seats to watch the trial.

There was a palpable expectation in the room.

The constant chatter ended when Burke was brought in.

He was wearing an orange prison uniform and was chained at his wrists and ankles.

His handcuffs were removed but he remained chained to his chair throughout the hearing.

He smiled briefly at members of his defense team before quietly responding to the judge with “Good morning, Your Honor” and “Yes, Your Honor.”

The atmosphere changed dramatically as Detective Joshua Byers began his testimony.

Before displaying each image, prosecutor Beth Silverman contacted Celeste’s parents repeatedly to warn them of what they were about to see and to see if they wanted to look away.

At one point, Celeste’s mother was comforted by supporters sitting next to her.

The girl’s body was found in the trunk of a Tesla at a Hollywood tow truck in September 2025.

Detective Byers described opening a cadaver bag inside the car and finding decomposed human remains, including a torso and a head, and another black garbage bag with severed limbs underneath.

He told the court Celeste’s body was so severely decomposed that her face was no longer recognisable.

The court also heard evidence showing purchases including chainsaws, body bags and an inflatable pool were delivered to Burke’s address under an assumed name after Celeste’s death.

Investigators allege the items were used to dismember and conceal Celeste’s body.

The court heard about tattoos that prosecutors said were linked to Burke and Celeste.

The judge was shown photos of a red-inked tattoo that reads “Celeste” on Burke’s left ring finger and a “Shh…” tattoo on her right index finger.

Prosecutors showed a photo of Celeste with a similar “Shh…” tattoo on her right index finger and another picture of a hand with the ring and little finger cut off.

While the preliminary hearing is expected to last several days, prosecutors plan to call additional witnesses as they try to gather enough evidence to move the case to a jury trial.