Entertainment
Singer D4vd replaces private attorneys with public defender in murder case as victim's family contests indigent status
David Anthony Burke pleaded not guilty to murder, sexual abuse, and body mutilation charges as the victim's family challenges his eligibility for a taxpayer-funded defense.
The short version
- Singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, dismissed his private legal counsel and requested a public defender by declaring indigence during a pretrial hearing in Los Angeles.
- Burke faces charges including murder, continuous sexual abuse, and body mutilation in connection with the April 2025 death of teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
- An attorney representing the victim's family is disputing the indigent status, alleging corporate records show Burke controls three businesses with significant assets.
- Burke has pleaded not guilty to all counts, with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office yet to announce whether it will seek the death penalty ahead of an October court date.
Key facts
- Burke replaced private attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Pete with public defender Walid Fouad Kandeel after asserting he qualifies as indigent.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Patrick Steinfeld, an attorney representing the family of victim Celeste Rivas Hernandez, challenged the indigent claim by citing Texas business records showing Burke owns and directs three LLCs.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Prosecutors allege Burke murdered Rivas Hernandez in April 2025 after she threatened to expose an illegal sexual relationship with him.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Investigators found dismembered remains in a Tesla registered to Burke, with identity confirmed through dental records and a distinctive finger tattoo.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Burke was arrested in April 2026, pleaded not guilty to all charges, and had his case ordered to trial following a July preliminary hearing.[The Hollywood Reporter]
What remains uncertain
- The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has not decided whether to pursue the death penalty against Burke.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- It remains unverified by the court whether Burke's business holdings disqualify him from utilizing a public defender.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Sources
- D4vd Murder Case: Victim’s Family Demands Justice as Indigent Claim Draws ScrutinyThe Hollywood Reporter metered