Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, pleaded not guilty on Monday at his rearraignment on charges that he sexually abused, murdered and dismembered 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found concealed in his Tesla. He also dropped his high-profile private lawyers, Blair Berk and Marilyn Bednarski, in favour of the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, after being deemed to qualify for appointed counsel despite his success as a recording artist.

Burke, 21, faces three charges: murder while lying in wait, for financial gain and to prevent the victim reporting alleged abuse; continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14; and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors allege he abused Rivas Hernandez for over a year before killing her on 23 April 2025 and dismembering her body with a chainsaw in his garage, concealing her remains in his Tesla with air fresheners placed around the vehicle. A five-day preliminary hearing in July found sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, with new lawyer Walid Kandeel entering the not guilty plea after a judge denied his request to delay proceedings; the next hearing is set for 19 October, with no trial date yet fixed.