D4vd has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge over the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

D4vd possessed ‘significant amount’ of child sex abuse images, prosecutor claims

D4vd has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge over the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

By Sharareh Drury

on April 23, 2026 2:52 p.m. ET

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Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic

- A "significant amount" of child pornography was discovered on a digital account belonging to singer D4vd, a prosecutor claimed during a preliminary hearing on Thursday.

- The 21-year-old singer faces a first-degree murder charge over the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

- Hernandez's body was found in an impounded car registered to D4vd last September.

Singer D4vd appeared in court on Thursday, after being charged with first-degree murder earlier this week.

During the procedural hearing, Beth Silverman, deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County, alleged that D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, possessed a "significant amount" of child sex abuse images on his iCloud storage account. Silverman added that the 21-year-old singer's account contained eight terabytes of data, and so far one terabyte has been downloaded.**

Both sides appeared in court on Thursday, as well as D4vd, who appeared in handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit at the hearing. His legal team said they are still seeking evidence and had received little discovery from the prosecution. A preliminary hearing has been set for May 1, which will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.**

D4vd, was arrested on April 16 on suspicion of murder and has since pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains regarding the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He is being held without bail ahead of his trial.

Last September, a day after what would have been Hernandez's 15th birthday, her dismembered body was discovered by Los Angeles police in an impounded Tesla registered to D4vd.**

D4vd's mug shot.

David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty

Following the singer being charged on Monday, his attorneys said in a statement provided to **, "The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend David's innocence."

Authorities disclosed the official cause of death for Hernandez on Wednesday, attributing it to "multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s)", according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. The manner of death was ruled as homicide.

Cause of death revealed for Celeste Rivas Hernandez, teen at center of D4vd murder case

Celeste Rivas Hernandez's parents break silence after D4vd's murder charge

Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

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The teen's parents recently discussed their daughter's death for the first time, sharing in a statement provided to the *California Post* by their family attorney that they are thankful for law enforcement's aid so far.

"We would like to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and the District Attorney's Office for their hard work," Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez said. They also remembered their daughter as "a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance."

"Every Friday was movie night and we spent wonderful times together. We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply," they said. "All we want is justice for Celeste."**

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Source: “EW Celebrity”