Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced formal charges Monday against D4vd, the singer whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, in connection with the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Burke pleaded not guilty to all charges at an arraignment Monday afternoon and will remain in custody without bail.

Burke faces first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilating human remains, according to CBS News Los Angeles. The special circumstances allegations — which can result in the death penalty or life without parole — include lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and murdering a witness in an ongoing investigation.

Hochman outlined the prosecution's theory of the case in detail at a morning press conference attended by LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. Prosecutors allege that Burke had been having a sexual relationship with Celeste when she was 13 and 14 years old, and that when she threatened to publicly expose the relationship, he lured her to his Hollywood Hills home.

"Celeste went to Burke's house in the Hollywood Hills," Hochman said. "She was never heard from again."

Celeste visited Burke's home on April 23, 2025 — the same day tickets for his world tour went on pre-sale — according to ABC7. Prosecutors allege he killed her using "a deadly and dangerous weapon, namely a sharp instrument," then dismembered her body. Her remains were placed in bags inside the front trunk of his Tesla. The car was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills, towed in August, and her body was discovered in September 2025 — a day after what would have been her 15th birthday.

The motive, Hochman said, was financial. "This murder was committed for financial gain, as the evidence will show in court. The financial gain was for Mr. Burke to maintain his very lucrative musical career that Celeste was threatening."

Burke's attorney Blair Berk maintained his client's innocence in a statement issued Monday evening. "The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend David's innocence." Berk's firm has previously represented Harvey Weinstein, Kanye West, and Britney Spears, among others.

Burke is scheduled to appear in court again Thursday. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek the death penalty. Hochman said investigators have physical, forensic, and digital evidence to present at trial. Celeste's family attended Monday's hearing; a planned press conference through their attorney was canceled.

Burke is presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.