Prosecutors say singer killed teen to silence her about relationship
The hearing, which is expected to conclude Thursday, follows several delays in the case, attributed in part to the voluminous amount of investigatory evidence.
Los Angeles County prosecutors accuse the musician, born David Anthony Burke, of stabbing Hernandez to death at his Los Angeles residence last April to silence her from divulging the sexual nature of their relationship as his career was burgeoning, according to court documents.
Prosecutors said the sexual relationship began in November 2023, when Burke was 18 and Hernandez was 13.
Burke allegedly mutilated Hernandez’s body after her death, sawing her limbs with a chainsaw and amputating her ring finger, which had a tattoo of his name, before discarding her dismembered limbs in a Tesla, the court documents state.
In September 2025, Los Angeles police found Hernandez’s decomposed remains in a Tesla that had been impounded at a Hollywood tow yard. The yard’s manager alerted law enforcement after noticing a pungent odor coming from the vehicle and the presence of flies, according to prosecutors.
Burke, now 21, was arrested in April and has been held in custody since then without bail. If convicted of murder, he may face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
At the time of his arrest, his defense team said he “was not the cause” of Hernandez’s death. Burke has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
In an April brief, prosecutors outlined evidence they intend to present at the hearing, including text messages between Burke and Hernandez that they said demonstrate their alleged sexual relations and the girl threatening to expose him. The state also said it planned to present surveillance video of Burke last driving the Tesla in July 2025, his purchases of a body bag and two chainsaws, and forensic evidence linking blood stains in his garage to Hernandez’s genetic profile.
Burke rose to popularity with a series of viral TikTok singles. In July 2025, he launched an international tour in support of his debut album “Withered.” The tour was canceled in September 2025 after Hernandez’s body was found in the car registered to his name. Several of Burke’s former collaborators have since distanced themselves from the singer.
In April, after his arrest was announced, Hernandez’s family released a statement eulogizing her.
“Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together,” they wrote. “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.”