D4vd murder case: what happens next after judge's ruling
A Los Angeles judge found probable cause to send the d4vd murder case what happens next to a jury trial—not a conviction. David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, pleaded not guilty and could still be acquitted if prosecutors fail to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. An Aug. 31 arraignment comes next.
Key Takeaways
- Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo ruled July 27 that prosecutors showed enough evidence for trial after a five-day preliminary hearing.
- Burke faces first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, and unlawful mutilation of human remains charges; he has pleaded not guilty.
- He remains held without bail, with a post-preliminary arraignment set for Aug. 31 and a trial expected within about 60 days after that.
- A preliminary finding of probable cause is not a guilty verdict; at trial, the burden rises to beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Prosecutors have not decided whether to seek the death penalty.
What happens next in the D4vd murder case?
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo held Burke to answer on the charges after prosecutors presented witnesses and evidence over five days. That ruling means the case moves forward to trial; it does not mean guilt has been proven.
According to reporting from ABC News, the next court date is an Aug. 31 arraignment on the sustained charges. A trial has not yet been scheduled, though coverage of the ruling says one could begin within roughly two months of that hearing. Burke remains in custody without bail.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office showed only a “small fraction” of its evidence at the preliminary hearing and believes it can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. For more case coverage in this beat, see BlasterPost’s True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub.
Could D4vd still be found not guilty?
Yes. The preliminary hearing used a probable-cause standard—whether there was enough evidence to proceed—not the higher “beyond a reasonable doubt” test jurors apply at trial. Burke maintains a not-guilty plea, and his lawyers have said they will “vigorously defend” him.
In a statement after his arrest, defense attorneys said the evidence would show Burke “did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death.” At trial, prosecutors must convince a jury on each charge; if they do not, he can be acquitted.
What charges and penalties does he face?
Burke, 21, is accused in the 2025 killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege he killed her after she threatened to expose an illegal sexual relationship, then dismembered her body. Her remains were found in September 2025 in the front trunk of a Tesla linked to him.
He is charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of a corpse. The judge also upheld special-circumstance allegations that can support life without parole or the death penalty. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says it has not decided whether to seek capital punishment.
Nothing in the preliminary ruling settles the ultimate question of guilt. What happens next is formal charging paperwork, the Aug. 31 arraignment, and—unless the case resolves earlier—a jury trial where Burke can still be found not guilty.