D4vd asked a judge for a haircut and new clothes ahead of his preliminary hearing as he faces serious charges in connection to the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
According to court documents reviewed by TMZ, the 21-year-old singer’s team requested permission for him to appear in dress pants and a button-down shirt at the Friday hearing, but the judge denied that request, meaning he will wear standard jail issued clothing instead.
He did receive partial approval on another request, as Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo ordered the sheriff's department to give him a haircut before the hearing on Friday (May 1).
The “Romantic Homicide” singer was arrested on April 16 in connection with Rivas’s death and has since been formally charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains.
D4vd’s arrest came seven months after Rivas’ dismembered and decomposed body was found in the front trunk of his Tesla.
He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail. If convicted, he could face life in prison. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
Attorneys for the singer maintain his innocence, claiming that “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.” His family members also said in a statement shared by an attorney that “they fully stand behind him and believe that he is innocent.”
During his court appearance on Thursday (April 23), prosecutors claimed they combed through the artist’s phone and discovered a “significant amount” of child pornography, but it remains unclear if any of the footage showed Rivas.
A recent statement from the Los Angeles district attorney’s office alleged that D4vd (born David Anthony Burke) “personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime.”
According to autopsy reports obtained by TMZ and released last week, the medical examiner in Los Angeles said Rivas' manner of death was homicide by two “penetrating wounds of the torso with smooth edges that may represent sharp force injuries.”
Rivas’ decomposed and dismembered remains were found last September in the Tesla registered to D4vd that had been impounded after the vehicle was reported as abandoned.
Rivas was reportedly last seen on April 23, 2025, when she went to D4vd’s Hollywood Hills rental home.
At the time that Rivas’ remains were discovered, D4vd was touring in support of his Withered album. He went on to perform on Sept. 9 at The Fillmore in Minneapolis after the story broke about the discovery.
D4vd’s remaining tour dates were canceled, and a previously-announced deluxe edition for Withered was seemingly shelved.
Rivas’ family broke their silence on her death on April 21 with a statement thanking the Los Angeles Police Department and District Attorney’s office for their hard work.
“Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together,” read part of the statement. "We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste.”
