D4vd has experienced a major change in his legal defense as he prepares to stand trial in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The 21-year-old singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday, August 31, where his high-profile private attorneys officially withdrew from the case. Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter had been representing Burke, but he will now be defended by the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. The exact reason for the attorneys’ departure has not been publicly disclosed.
During the hearing, Burke entered another not guilty plea to the charges against him. He is facing murder, continuous lewd or lascivious acts involving a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. A judge previously ruled following a five-day preliminary hearing in July that prosecutors had presented enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
Burke’s former attorneys said the court approved their request to withdraw after determining that the singer qualified to receive court-appointed representation. They did not provide additional details explaining why their professional relationship with Burke ended, although they said they continued to support his defense against the allegations.
The decision to appoint a public defender has raised questions because of Burke’s previous financial success. Testimony presented during an earlier hearing indicated that the singer earned at least $10 million from his music career between 2023 and 2025. However, the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office said it conducted a financial evaluation and determined that Burke met the requirements for representation.
Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel has now taken over Burke’s defense. Kandeel reportedly requested that the arraignment be delayed after entering the case, but Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo denied the request and required Burke to enter a plea during Monday’s proceeding. A status conference is expected in October, while an official trial date has not yet been announced.
The case centers on the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered inside the trunk of a Tesla connected to Burke in September 2025. Prosecutors allege that Burke killed the teenager months earlier, in April 2025, before her body was later discovered while he was away on tour. Burke has pleaded not guilty and has not been convicted of the allegations against him.
Prosecutors have alleged that Burke and Rivas Hernandez had been involved in a relationship and that sexual abuse began before she turned 14. Authorities claim the teenager threatened to expose the alleged relationship shortly before her death, which prosecutors have presented as a possible motive in the case. They further allege that Burke arranged transportation for her to come to his residence, where they say she was killed.
During the preliminary hearing, prosecutors presented testimony and other evidence that they argue connects Burke to Rivas Hernandez’s death. The previous defense team challenged the prosecution’s case, arguing that the evidence was not sufficient to establish that Burke committed murder. Judge Olmedo ultimately ruled that there was enough evidence for a jury trial to move forward.
The case could carry extremely serious consequences for the singer if he is convicted. Burke is eligible for the death penalty because of the charges he faces, although Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors have not yet made a final decision on whether they will seek capital punishment.
Hochman has also indicated that the sudden change in Burke’s defense team will not alter the prosecution’s approach to the case, although bringing new attorneys into such a complicated proceeding could potentially affect the timeline. Prosecutors maintain that they are prepared to attempt to prove the charges at trial.
Before the criminal case, D4vd had quickly developed into one of music’s rising young stars. He gained widespread attention through platforms including TikTok and SoundCloud before finding mainstream success with songs such as “Romantic Homicide.” His music accumulated massive streaming numbers, and his growing profile eventually led to appearances at major festivals including Coachella.
Now, however, his music career has been overshadowed by the criminal proceedings surrounding Rivas Hernandez’s death. With his private attorneys gone and a public defender now handling his case, Burke is entering another major stage of the legal battle.
No trial date has been finalized, and Burke remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The next scheduled proceedings are expected to provide more information about the defense strategy, the trial timeline and whether prosecutors will ultimately pursue the death penalty.