Overview
- Prosecutors charged David Anthony Burke in April with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of remains.
- The case centers on 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered remains were found in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla in September 2025.
- The three special circumstances are lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and killing a witness, which make the case eligible for life without parole or the death penalty.
- A preliminary hearing is set for May 1 in Los Angeles, and Burke has pleaded not guilty and remains in jail.
- The industry response has escalated, with Interscope cutting ties, UMG helping collaborators remove tracks, several features taken down, and a petition drawing thousands of signatures urging streaming platforms to pull his catalog during the case.