Singer D4vd loses private lawyers, pleads not guilty again in murder case

Key Points:

• Singer D4vd, legally David Anthony Burke, entered a new not guilty plea to charges of killing, sexually abusing, and dismembering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, but lost his high-profile private lawyers who were replaced by a public defender after a judge ruled he qualified for court-appointed counsel.
• Despite Burke reportedly earning at least $10 million from 2023 to 2025, the Public Defender’s Office conducted a financial evaluation and deemed him eligible for their services, though details of his financial status remain unclear.
• The judge denied a delay in arraignment, demanding a plea and setting a status conference for October, with no trial date yet; Burke faces charges including murder, continuous lewd acts with a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of remains, and is eligible for the death penalty, which prosecutors are still considering.
• Prosecutors allege Burke killed Rivas Hernandez after she threatened to expose sexual abuse, with evidence including her dismembered body found in his car and her phone going silent at the time of the alleged murder, while defense attorneys argue the evidence is insufficient.
• D4vd gained fame as a teen indie-pop artist with millions of streams and high-profile performances, but now faces serious criminal charges amid ongoing legal proceedings.