AceShowbiz - D4vd, the platinum-selling singer born David Anthony Burke, appeared stoic during a Los Angeles court hearing on April 20 as prosecutors disclosed disturbing new evidence related to his ongoing legal battles.

During the arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman revealed that investigators had accessed D4vd's iCloud account, which "contains a significant amount of child pornography." This revelation came amid the first-degree murder charges against Burke concerning the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

Despite the shocking revelation about his digital data, D4vd and his defense team are pushing for an immediate preliminary hearing in the murder case. The judge scheduled a follow-up hearing for April 29 to discuss evidence production, with the preliminary hearing itself set to begin on May 1. The preliminary hearing will serve as a mini-trial to examine available evidence in an open court setting.

Wearing an orange jail uniform and shackled by the wrist, D4vd remained mostly silent throughout the proceedings, only speaking to consent to brief interruptions during the hearing. His defense lawyer, Marilyn Bednarski, described the session as "informative." His co-counsel, Blair Berk, was seen placing a reassuring hand on Burke's shoulder. Judge Charlaine Olmedo cautioned Burke not to miss the jail transport for future hearings, emphasizing the importance of observing the timeline for a preliminary hearing within 10 days of charges being filed.

D4vd was arrested the previous week and officially charged on Monday with the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The young girl was found dismembered and badly decomposed in the front trunk of Burke’s towed Tesla last September.

Deputy District Attorney Silverman outlined aspects of the investigation, revealing that a wiretap had been obtained and that three grand juries convened in November, December, and February had been tasked with investigating the case—not to indict, but to gather information. She emphasized the massive volume of digital evidence, explaining that despite five weeks of work, LAPD investigators had only uploaded about 30 percent of the evidence to a system accessible by the defense team.

Marking exactly one year since Celeste’s death, Silverman urged the case to proceed swiftly. She stated, "Once the defense reviews the discovery, we'll be eager to set the case for trial within the 60-day period as well."

Adding to the case’s grim details, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released a comprehensive 26-page autopsy report on Wednesday, confirming that Rivas died from "multiple penetrating injuries" to her upper abdomen. These injuries included two stab wounds: one to the right abdomen that perforated the liver, and another to the left chest that penetrated an intercostal space.

The report classified the manner of death as homicide and indicated that the cause of death was determined back on December 9, 2025. Toxicology results showed a low level of ethanol, which was not considered a contributing factor to her death, alongside "presumptive" positives for benzodiazepines, methamphetamine, and MDMA, though these findings require further confirmation.

The autopsy report was released after law enforcement had previously obtained a court order to block its disclosure—a move opposed by the medical examiner’s office, which argued the order hindered transparency. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo expressed relief that the information could finally be shared, noting the hardship endured by Rivas’ parents. He stated, "It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter."

The report detailed the brutal condition of Rivas’ remains: her limbs were "dismembered into several fragments," her head was "partially skeletonized" with a missing eye, and the soft tissue showed signs of liquefaction. Fingerprinting was impossible due to waterlogged fingers.

Celeste Rivas’ body was discovered seven months ago in the front trunk of a Tesla owned by Burke, hidden in two black bags after the vehicle was towed from an affluent area of the Hollywood Hills. Authorities had remained tight-lipped about the investigation during the intervening months.

D4vd faces multiple charges, including one count of first-degree murder with special circumstances such as lying in wait and financial gain. Additional charges relate to sexual acts with a minor and mutilation of human remains. He entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment.

Prosecutors allege that Celeste was last seen entering Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence on April 23, 2025, and was never heard from again. They contend she was murdered on that day and that her body was mutilated on or around May 5.

The case continues to unfold with extensive digital and forensic evidence being collected and reviewed. The defense and prosecution are preparing for the upcoming preliminary hearing, which will be a critical stage in the legal process.