Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder with additional special circumstances, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old and mutilation of human remains, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday, Aug. 31. At the arraignment, Burke’s lawyers withdrew in a surprising move, leaving him with a public defender.

Charges and Background

Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said in a statement to USA TODAY that the decision came “after it was determined David qualified for appointed counsel.” “We continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges,” they added. “We are grateful that the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office has taken over the representation and that David has a highly capable and committed team of attorneys and investigators behind him.”

Burke, who was arrested on April 16, is accused of killing then-14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez and dismembering her body in his garage in April 2025 after she threatened to expose their relationship – which allegedly began in 2022 when she was 11 and he was 16, according to his indictment. Prosecutors say Burke believed the revelation would have damaged his career ahead of the release of his debut album that month.

Timeline and Evidence

Rivas Hernandez’s remains were found five months later in September in an impounded Tesla registered to Burke at a Los Angeles tow yard. Her official cause of death was ruled “two penetrating wounds” to her right abdomen and left chest, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner announced April 22.

According to BBC, one text from Hernandez read, “I swear to GOD I will kill u,” followed by a threat to strangle him and tell her dad lies about him. “i will end ur career and ur life I will damage anything,” the text went on. The following day, Hernandez went to Burke’s Hollywood home in an Uber he had sent to pick her up. Prosecutors alleged that Burke stabbed her once she arrived.

Legal Developments

The high-profile lawyers for the 21-year-old singer were granted a withdrawal. Blair Berk, Marilynne Bednarski and the rest of their team dropped Burke as a client, though a reason was not provided. Public defender Walid Kandeel stepped in as his representation. “We recognize the loss of life underlying the allegations and extend our sympathies to those who are grieving. At the same time, David Burke is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence. We are committed to providing him with that defense,” Kandeel shared in a statement.

Kandeel requested that the arraignment be postponed, but the judge rejected the request. D4vd once again pleaded not guilty to charges of murder with special circumstances, sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. D4vd’s next court date is Oct. 19.

“The fact that there wasn’t a different private attorney today to substitute in for the previous private counsel — those factors point to an issue of finances for him,” said legal analyst Lou Shapiro. Monday’s arraignment set the stage for a trial that could start in a matter of months.

After court, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the change in his representation doesn’t impact their prosecution. “As soon as the defense announces ‘ready to proceed,’ the DA’s office is ready to proceed,” Hochman said. Hochman said his office is still waiting for Burke’s defense to make an argument against seeking the death penalty, which he says is still a possibility.