Tesla Trunk Horror: Judge Moves Forward

TESLA TRUNK TRAGEDY

A Los Angeles judge ruled Monday that singer D4vd will stand trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found stuffed inside his Tesla.

Quick Take

Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo found probable cause after a five-day preliminary hearing with a dozen witnesses.
David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, faces first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, and body mutilation charges.
Celeste’s remains sat in the front trunk of his impounded Tesla for months before workers found them.
Prosecutors say Burke bought a chainsaw online and used it to dismember her body.

A Judge Weighs Five Days of Grim Testimony

Judge Olmedo spent five days hearing evidence before deciding Burke must face trial. Prosecutors called a dozen witnesses and showed photographic evidence to the court.

Celeste’s parents sat through the hearing as graphic crime scene photos of their daughter’s dismembered body appeared on screen for the first time. Burke was ordered to stand trial, with arraignment set for August 31.

A preliminary hearing only asks one question: is there enough evidence to move forward? It is not a verdict. But the volume of evidence prosecutors laid out made this case feel far along before any jury was picked. That is the reality of how modern murder cases get built now, on phones, cars, and receipts, not just eyewitnesses.

How Investigators Say the Case Came Together

Celeste’s remains were found on September 8 inside a Tesla Model X registered to Burke, which had been towed from the Hollywood Hills. She had been missing nearly five months when workers discovered her body, decomposed and hidden in two bags in the car’s front trunk, surrounded by air fresheners and maggots. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide before Burke faced formal charges.

Judge rules singer D4vd must stand trial in killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez 👉 https://t.co/RCotLGaaGo pic.twitter.com/zdnQl0zbpu

— Alaska's News Source (@AKNewsNow) July 28, 2026

Prosecutors built their case on digital evidence. A detective testified that Burke’s phone held sexually explicit photos of the teen along with messages discussing an abortion.

Investigators also traced a paper trail of online purchases and vehicle GPS records, according to testimony on the first day of the hearing. Court filings say Burke bought a chainsaw online, placed her body in an inflatable pool, and used the tool to dismember her before hiding the remains in his car.

Charges, Custody, and What Comes Next

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced charges against Burke in April, covering first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Burke has pleaded not guilty to all counts. He remains in custody without bail, with a pretrial filing date scheduled for August 31 and a trial date still to come.

The case has already drawn intense public attention, fueled by Burke’s music career and the disturbing nature of the evidence. A hearing in May was pushed back after prosecutors said they needed more time to sort through a mountain of new material. That delay shows how complex the evidentiary record has become, even before opening statements begin.

A Defense That Still Has Ground to Cover

Burke’s attorneys have not conceded the case. Reporting from later hearing days notes the defense pressing on forensic gaps and disputing the state’s timeline.

A probable-cause finding sets a low bar compared to what a jury must decide beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense will get its full chance to challenge the chain of custody and the completeness of the forensic work once trial begins.

Los Angeles Times reporting on the hearing’s final days described text messages showing a relationship between Burke and Celeste that stretched over months before her death.

Whatever the jury eventually decides, the preliminary hearing made one thing plain: prosecutors believe they have the evidence to prove murder, and a judge agreed there was enough to let a jury decide.

Families watching this case, and the public following it online, now wait for a trial date. Given the scope of digital evidence already presented, expect defense motions over admissibility to shape the months ahead before any jury hears opening statements.