D4vd shows no emotion as teen's alleged killing is detailed

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Editor's note: This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.Singer D4vd showed no visible emotion as prosecutors displayed graphic crime scene photographs and detailed the alleged killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez during the opening day of his preliminary hearing Tuesday, July 21, according to Rolling Stone.The outlet reported that images of the alleged victim were displayed on a courtroom screen while Rivas Hernandez's parents sat in the front row of the gallery. Her mother bowed her head and looked away during the presentation, while her father, Jesus Rivas, repeatedly checked on his wife.Prosecutors began presenting evidence in an effort to convince a judge there is sufficient cause to send the case against the 21-year-old musician, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, to trial.Burke faces several criminal felony charges after the remains of Rivas Hernandez, who was last seen alive on April 23, 2025, were found in the trunk of a car registered in his name in September.Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman also showed about 10 minutes of body camera footage from Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, who spoke with Burke at a West Hollywood residence on Feb. 17, 2024, during an earlier missing-person investigation after Rivas Hernandez's parents reported her missing. She returned home two days later, on Feb. 19, 2024.Prosecutors plan to call more than 10 witnesses over the next three to five days. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge will determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse that prosecutors are continuing to evaluate whether to seek the death penalty.Burke was arrested on April 16 for first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The special circumstances include "lying in wait, committing this crime for financial gain or murdering a witness in an investigation," the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office revealed on April 20.Prosecutors allege Burke killed Rivas Hernandez and dismembered her in his garage, citing blood evidence and DNA analysis. He allegedly removed a tattoo of his name from her body during the process.He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody without bail. His attorneys have vowed to "vigorously defend David's innocence."The preliminary hearing was initially set to kick off May 1, but was postponed to May 26 and again to June 29 before ultimately being set for July 21. In May, prosecutors told the court they were still reviewing discovery that could include more than 40 terabytes of evidence.Here are the biggest bombshells from the latest proceedings.D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas HernandezMusician D4vd is facing murder charges following his high-profile arrest in the slaying of teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez.D4vd, Celeste Rivas Hernandez timeline: What authorities say happenedAccording to prosecutors, Rivas Hernandez and Burke were allegedly in a romantic relationship that began in 2022, when she was 11 and he was 16. On April 23, 2025, prosecutors allege, Burke killed Rivas Hernandez after she threatened to expose the relationship, which would have damaged his career ahead of the release of his debut album that month.Police had previously spoken with Burke in February 2024 when Rivas Hernandez's family reported her missing. He "claimed he had spoken to" her days earlier, "but stated he was unaware she was a minor or that she had been reported missing," according to the district attorney's office filing.Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputies then conducted a welfare check at Burke's home, where he allegedly told them he met Rivas Hernandez once in November 2023. Rivas Hernandez was 13 and Burke was 18 at that time, which was when prosecutors allege the relationship turned sexual.Two days after she was reported missing, Rivas Hernandez returned home and her parents confiscated her phone. However, prosecutors allege Burke purchased a new phone and paid Rivas Hernandez's classmate $1,000 to give it to her so they could stay in contact.Burke allegedly took Rivas Hernandez on trips around the country and abroad, but the pair broke up in November 2024, per the filing. The district attorney's office said messages obtained by investigators "suggest they also continued to have sexual relations."Records showed that Rivas Hernandez and Burke got into an argument via text on April 22, 2025. Prosecutors said the next day, "all cellular activity ceased."On the evening of April 23, 2025, Burke allegedly booked an Uber from Rivas Hernandez's family home to his house and began messaging her asking where she was about 20 minutes after she arrived. The district attorney's office characterized Burke's behavior as evidence of "premeditated plan to cover up the murder, as she was already dead by this time."From April 24, 2025, to July 7, 2025, prosecutors allege Burke bought supplies to conceal evidence of Rivas Hernandez's death. Law enforcement later found her "genetic profile" in Burke's garage, the filing stated.Rivas Hernandez's remains were found in an impounded Tesla in a Los Angeles tow yard on Sept. 8, five months later. Her official cause of death was ruled "two penetrating wounds" to her right abdomen and left chest, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner announced April 22.Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY