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What Happens at D4vd's Monday Hearing

Updated Saturday, October 17, 2026. This story involves the death of a child.

The singer D4vd goes back to court on Monday, October 19, 2026. It is a short check-in hearing in downtown Los Angeles. It is not a trial. No verdict will come Monday.

His legal name is David Anthony Burke. He is charged in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. She was 14 years old. He has pleaded not guilty. He is presumed innocent unless a jury finds him guilty.

What’s happening Monday

News reports call Monday’s hearing a status conference. ABC News described it as a check on whether both sides are ready for trial.

The time has not been publicly verified. Court times can change. Check our Court Calendar before Monday.

Who Celeste was

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a 14-year-old girl. September 7, 2026, would have been her 16th birthday. Her family marked that day in public and asked officials to seek the death penalty.

She was a daughter. She was a kid. This case is about her first.

Where the case stands

Here are the facts from public reports:

  • Arrest. Police arrested Burke on April 16, 2026.
  • Charges. Prosecutors charged him on April 20, 2026. He faces three counts: first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
  • Special allegations. The complaint says the killing was done because Celeste was a witness, for money, and while “lying in wait.” These are prosecutors’ claims. They are not proven.
  • Plea. He pleaded not guilty.
  • Trial ordered. On July 27, 2026, Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled there was enough evidence to go to trial. That was after a five-day preliminary hearing. That ruling is not a finding of guilt.
  • New lawyers. On August 31, 2026, his private lawyers left the case. The public defender’s office took over. He pleaded not guilty again that day.
  • Custody. He is held in jail without bail.
  • Death penalty. The district attorney has not decided whether to seek it. The other option, if he is convicted, is life in prison without parole.

As of October 17, 2026, we found no public report of a trial date or a death penalty decision.

Prosecutors have a theory about why this happened. A theory is not proof. A jury will decide.

What a status conference is

A status conference is a short meeting in court. The judge asks both sides, “Where are we?”

What could happen Monday:

  • The judge could set a trial date, or set another hearing.
  • The lawyers could ask for more time. New defense lawyers often need time to learn a big case.
  • Both sides could talk about evidence they still need to share.
  • Prosecutors could say whether they will seek the death penalty. That is possible, but no one has said it will happen Monday.

What will not happen Monday:

  • No trial. No jury. No verdict.
  • Status conferences usually do not include witness testimony.

What to watch for next

  • A trial date. None has been set in public reports.
  • The death penalty choice. The district attorney is still weighing it.
  • Delays. A new defense team may ask for more time.
  • The civil case. Celeste’s parents filed a separate wrongful death lawsuit in September 2026. That is a different case from the criminal one.

We will update our Court Calendar after Monday.

Sources

Follow every hearing on our Court Calendar: https://cassiancreed.com/court-calendar/

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