Singer d4vd pleads not guilty to all charges in connection with killing of 14-year-old

Krdo · Apr 20, 2026 · 997 words · By CNN

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What to know about Celebrity Crime/Legal Proceedings

Singer d4vd pleads not guilty to all charges in connection with killing of 14-year-old CNN By Alaa Elassar, Zoe Sottile, CNN (CNN) — The singer d4vd pleaded not guilty Monday to all charges in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a…

Claims checked 16

Techniques found 2

Topics 1

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

D4vd was charged Monday with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old and mutilating human remains, records show.

Common ground

It came seven months after Celeste’s decomposed body was discovered in his car.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Selective Omission: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Celebrity Crime/Legal Proceedings story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that In January 2024, the two appeared together in a livestream on Twitch, joking and talking into the early morning hours before d4vd, laughing, said: “Delete everything.”?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://krdo.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2026/04/20/singer-d4vd-pleads-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Selective Omission 70% confidence

Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

Why it matters: Recognizing selective omission helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 16 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

schedule Pending 6

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “In January 2024, the two appeared together in a livestream on Twitch, joking and talking into the early morning hours before d4vd, laughing, said: “Delete everything.””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “Authorities arrested the singer April 16 on suspicion of killing Celeste, taking him into custody at a residence in the Hollywood Hills just over a mile from the tow yard where the girl’s body was found inside his car.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “Additionally, Celeste was a witness to “the lewd and lascivious sexual acts committed by Mr. Burke,” said Hochman.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “Celeste had gone to the singer’s house in the Hollywood Hills on April 23, 2025, Hochman said.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that Celeste was last seen or went to the singer's house in the Hollywood Hills on April 23, 2025.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lin Shaye (born October 12, 1943) is an American actress. In a career spanning over 50 years, Shaye has appeared in more than a hundred feature films. She is regarded as a scream queen due to her role…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin_Shaye

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — David Anthony Burke (born March 28, 2005), known professionally as D4vd, is an American singer-songwriter. Born in New York City and raised in Houston, Texas, Burke began composing music in 2021 for h…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D4vd

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On September 8, 2025, the remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were discovered in Los Angeles, California, inside the front trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to David Burke, a musician …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Celeste_Rivas_Herna…

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 5: “The murder charge d4vd faces carries three special circumstances: lying in wait, committing a murder for financial gain and murdering “a witness to a crime.””

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries to confirm the specific three special circumstances listed: lying in wait, committing a murder for financial gain, and murdering a witness to a crime. While the general charges are mentioned, the specific list of three circumstances is not corroborated.

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Claim 6: “Burke killed Celeste “when she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career,” Hochman said.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results attribute the statement that Burke killed Celeste because she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and ruin his musical career to LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of American films released in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous notable films that were originally scheduled for release from mid-March to December were postponed to release …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_films_of_2020

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “After the “horrific and gruesome murder,” Hochman said in a news release, Burke dismembered Celeste’s body and put her remains in two bags in the front trunk of his car.”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results report that DA Hochman stated Burke dismembered Celeste's body and placed her remains in bags in the front trunk of the car.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Singer D4vd pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were allegedly found dismembered in the trunk of his Tesla.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/singer-d4vd-pleads-murder-young-g…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — On Sept. 8, 2025, as alleged in the complaint, Celeste's remains, her dismembered and decomposed remains were found inside two bags in side of a front trunk of a car registered to Mr. Burke."
https://mynewsla.com/crime/2026/04/20/singer-d4vd-suspected-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The singer is accused of sexually abusing Celeste Rivas Hernandez before killing the teenager with a sharp weapon and mutilating her body.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/arts/music/d4vd-murder-ch…

info

Claim 8: “Celeste’s cause of death hasn’t been released but prosecutors accuse Burke of using “a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument.””

SINGLE SOURCE

While the claim mentions the accusation of a 'deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument' and the lack of released cause of death, the provided evidence snippets do not contain direct, corroborating details on the weapon or the cause of death beyond the general accusation.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The LINQ @ Central Kemayoran berlokasi di Jl. Griya Utama No.857-858 2, Pademangan Tim., Kec. Pademangan, Jkt Utara, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 14410, Indonesia.
https://www.semuabis.com/the-linq-central-kemayoran-021-2962…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
https://maps.google.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Explore the world with Google Maps, featuring Street View, 3D mapping, turn-by-turn directions, indoor maps and more across your devices.
https://maps.google.co.id/mapfiles/home3.html

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Claim 9: “In June 2024, Celeste was photographed backstage at a sold-out show d4vd performed at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 10: “D4vd was charged Monday with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old and mutilating human remains, records show.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results corroborate that D4vd was charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "Crashing" is a song by American singers D4vd and Kali Uchis, released on February 28, 2025, as the third single from D4vd's debut studio album, Withered. The music video was directed by Kenneth Cappe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crashing_(D4vd_and_Kali_Uchis_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — American singer-songwriter D4vd has released one studio album, two extended plays (EPs), thirty-one singles, two promotional singles, and fifteen music videos. Born in Queens, New York City, and raise…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D4vd_discography

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 11: “The 21-year-old singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference earlier in the day.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results cite LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman discussing potential charges, including life in prison without parole or the death penalty, against David Anthony Burke.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The District Attorney of Los Angeles County is in charge of the office that prosecutes felony and misdemeanor crimes that occur within Los Angeles County, California, United States. The current distr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_County_District_At…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nathan Joseph Hochman (born November 26, 1963) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 44th District Attorney of Los Angeles County since 2024. Hochman is a former federal prosecu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Hochman

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 12: “In September 2025, a day after what would have been her 15th birthday, her dismembered and decomposed body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to d4vd while he was in Minneapolis on a world tour promoting his debut album, “Withered.””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 13: “The singer d4vd pleaded not guilty Monday to all charges in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old whose remains were found in his apparently abandoned Tesla last year.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that D4vd pleaded not guilty to charges related to Celeste Rivas Hernandez's death. Sources mention the plea and the victim's identity and the location of the remains.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "Romantic Homicide" is a song by American singer-songwriter D4vd. It was released on July 20, 2022, through DistroKid and later included as the second single from his debut EP, Petals to Thorns. The s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_Homicide

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 14: “Sometime between January and March 2024, the singer was photographed stepping out of a black Tesla just blocks from Celeste’s home.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 15: “It came seven months after Celeste’s decomposed body was discovered in his car.”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results specify that the charges were filed seven months after the body was found in the car, corroborating the timeline presented in the claim.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Seven months after the decomposed body of a 14-year-old girl was found in the trunk of his car, the singer d4vd pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/20/us/d4vd-case-update-celeste-r…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Seven months after a teen was found dead in a Tesla, prosecutors weigh charges tied to alt‑pop artist D4vd.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/article/seven-months-af…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In September 2025, just one day after Celeste's 15th birthday, her dissected and decomposed body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to d4vd, while he was on a world tour in Minneapolis promo…
https://en.thairath.co.th/news/foreign/2927792

help

Claim 16: “The “financial gain” circumstance was for “Mr. Burke to maintain his very lucrative musical career that Celeste was threatening on that night,” said Hochman.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries to confirm that Hochman specifically linked the 'financial gain' circumstance to Burke maintaining his lucrative musical career based on Celeste's threat.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.