UPDATE: Attorneys for d4vd Insist Evidence Will Exonerate Singer in Teenager’s Death
Vigorous Defence’: Attorneys for d4vd Insist Evidence Will Exonerate Singer in Teenager’s Death
LOS ANGELES — Legal representatives for David Anthony Burke, the 21-year-old musician known as d4vd, have broken their silence following his high-profile arrest, asserting that the singer is innocent of the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
In a statement released late on Thursday, Burke’s legal team, fronted by renowned defence attorney Blair Berk, pushed back against the LAPD’s allegations, claiming that the evidence currently being scrutinised by the District Attorney’s office will ultimately clear the "Romantic Homicide" artist’s name.
‘Catastrophically Wrong’
The statement follows Burke’s arrest on 16th April in connection with the discovery of the teenager’s remains inside a Tesla registered to him in September 2025. Burke is currently being held without bail at the Los Angeles County Jail.
“David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death,” the statement from Berk and co-counsel read. “We are confident that once the actual evidence in this case is presented, it will show that the current suspicions are catastrophically wrong. We will vigorously defend David’s innocence throughout this process.”
The defence team also urged the public to avoid "Internet-led speculation," referring to the viral scrutiny of Burke’s Discord server and lyrics, which many have attempted to link to the case.
The Prosecution’s Hurdle
While the defence is maintaining a stance of absolute innocence, legal experts suggest the case hinges on the "physical custody" of the vehicle in which Celeste’s remains were found. The Tesla Model Y had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for several days before being towed to an impound lot, where the grim discovery was made.
Key Pillars of the Defence Strategy
| Argument | Detail |
| Lack of Direct Link | Attorneys claim no forensic evidence links Burke to the act of murder. |
| Vehicle Access | The defence suggests the Tesla was accessible to third parties while "abandoned." |
| Digital Misinterpretation | Allegations regarding Discord chats are dismissed as "context-free" rumours. |
| Voluntary Compliance | Defence notes Burke did not flee during the seven-month investigation. |
A Complex Forensic Trail
Sources close to the investigation indicate that the LAPD spent months building a digital trail before making the arrest. Detectives have reportedly focused on encrypted messages and location data from the Tesla’s internal computer, which tracks the vehicle's movements with centimetre-level precision.
Despite the defence’s claims, the District Attorney’s office is expected to argue that the victim, who had been missing from Lake Elsinore since 2024, was part of an online community managed by the singer. The "secret" nature of the grand jury proceedings held earlier this year suggests that prosecutors believe they have evidence that has not yet been made public.
Holding Pattern
The music industry has largely gone silent following the arrest. d4vd, once seen as the golden boy of the "bedroom pop" genre, has had his catalogue removed from several high-profile editorial playlists on streaming platforms pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Burke is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday, 20th April, where his attorneys are anticipated to make a formal application for bail, arguing that the singer is not a flight risk despite the gravity of the "special circumstances" murder charge.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has yet to release the final autopsy report for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.
