Musician D4vd, facing charges of stabbing and dismembering a 14-year-old girl who threatened to expose their secret relationship, has replaced his defense team with a public defender, as reported by Reuters.
The 21-year-old, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, appeared at the Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday. This court appearance followed a prior ruling by Judge Charlaine Olmedo, who found sufficient grounds for a trial after prosecutors presented graphic testimonies and disturbing photographs from the crime scene.
Burke’s lead attorney, Blair Berk, known for representing several celebrities, informed the judge that Burke requested a new defender but did not disclose the reasons, according to the Los Angeles Times.
It remains unclear how Burke qualifies for public assistance given his lucrative music career. His former legal team stated that the court approved their withdrawal request after determining that Burke was eligible for a public defender.
The next hearing for Burke is scheduled for October, according to KABC in Los Angeles.
Burke rose to fame as a viral sensation on TikTok, with his breakout single “Romantic Homicide” leading to a multimillion-dollar deal with Interscope Records. His debut album was released in April 2025, the same week prosecutors allege his underage girlfriend, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, went missing.
Her decomposing remains were discovered five months later, stuffed in the front trunk of a Tesla sedan registered in Burke’s name. The singer-songwriter was arrested in April this year and charged with first-degree murder, human remains mutilation, and sexual abuse of a minor.
Prosecutors claim Burke killed the girl out of fear that she would damage his burgeoning career after she allegedly threatened to reveal their sexual relationship.
They asserted that “Burke fatally stabbed her at his home in Hollywood Hills on April 23, 2025.” During last month’s preliminary hearing, prosecutors presented evidence including photographs of three chainsaws, a shovel, and other items that they claim Burke purchased online under a fictitious name and had delivered to his home after the murder.
Among the items was a blue plastic inflatable pool, which prosecutors allege Burke used to prevent blood from spilling on his garage floor when he dismembered the victim.
Authorities identified the victim’s genetic profile through DNA evidence collected from Burke’s garage, according to prosecutors.
