LOS ANGELES — David Anthony Burke, known by the stage name D4vd, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. Burke is charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors allege special circumstances including murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait.

Burke appeared in court wearing an orange jail uniform and was shackled at the wrists and ankles, though his handcuffs were removed during the hearing. Judge Charlaine Olmedo denied a defense request for Burke to wear a suit instead of jail clothes. No cameras were allowed in the courtroom.

"Good morning, Your Honour," Burke said. "Yes, Your Honour."

Judge Charlaine Olmedo is presiding over the preliminary hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Prosecutors presented graphic crime scene photos showing the body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez for the first time in public court proceedings.

Detective Joshua Byers testified that Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body had decomposed so severely that her face was no longer recognizable. Byers testified that investigators found a torso and head in a partially unzipped body bag and severed limbs in another bag inside the trunk of a Tesla. Byers testified that there were maggots and flies present when the body was discovered.

Prosecutor Beth Silverman warned Celeste Rivas Hernandez's parents before displaying each graphic image and checked whether they wanted to look away. Celeste Rivas Hernandez's mother, Mercedes, bowed her head and cried while viewing the images in court.

Patrick Steinfeld, the attorney for Celeste Rivas Hernandez's family, said the parents opted to remain in the courtroom to show support for their daughter despite being advised they could step out. "This is the first time they've heard this evidence in detail, and they're horrified," Steinfeld said. "It's a parent's worst nightmare."

Prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed Celeste Rivas Hernandez to death on April 23, 2025, at his Hollywood Hills residence. Prosecutors allege that Burke ordered an Uber to bring Celeste Rivas Hernandez from Lake Elsinore to his home on April 23, 2025, which was the last time she was seen alive.

Prosecutors allege that Burke dismembered Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body using chainsaws in his garage to conceal the killing. Prosecutors allege that Burke amputated Celeste Rivas Hernandez's left ring and pinky fingers because her ring finger contained a tattoo of his name.

Prosecutors presented photographs showing a red-ink tattoo reading Celeste on Burke's left ring finger. Prosecutors presented photographs showing a Shhh... Tattoo on Burke's right index finger and a similar tattoo on Celeste Rivas Hernandez's right index finger. Prosecutors presented a photograph of a hand with the ring and little finger cut off.

Detective Joshua Byers testified that Burke ordered a body bag, chainsaws, an inflatable pool, and a shovel online in the days after Celeste Rivas Hernandez's death. Prosecutors allege Burke ordered two chainsaws from Amazon, a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, and a blue inflatable pool, which was used to contain blood during the dismemberment. Prosecutors allege Burke ordered a shovel from Home Depot the day after the killing.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez's decomposed body was discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke in September 2025. The Tesla was impounded at a Hollywood tow yard after the manager alerted law enforcement to a pungent odor and the presence of flies.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was positively identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner eight days after her body was found. Prosecutors allege that Burke and Celeste Rivas Hernandez began a sexual relationship in November 2023, when he was 18 and she was 13.

Prosecutors allege that text messages between Burke and Hernandez contain references to sex, pregnancy, abortion, and the use of Plan B emergency contraceptive. Forensic evidence linked blood stains in Burke's garage to Celeste Rivas Hernandez's genetic profile.

Surveillance video allegedly shows Burke was the last person to drive the Tesla. Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies visited Burke at his West Hollywood residence on February 17, 2024, after Celeste Rivas Hernandez's parents reported her missing.

Bodycam footage showed Burke telling deputies he met Rivas on Discord and Instagram, saw her once in person on November 12, 2023, and believed she was 18 years old. "She told me she was 18. Everyone's saying she's 13," Burke said.

Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026. He has been held in custody without bail since his arrest. "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," Berk said.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that prosecutors are evaluating whether to seek the death penalty by weighing aggravating and mitigating factors. "We will evaluate the death penalty as we would in any eligible case. We will look at the aggravating and mitigating factors," Hochman said.

Investigators found child sexual abuse material in Burke's iCloud account. The preliminary hearing is expected to last between three and seven days.