D4vd is 'target' of grand jury murder probe into dismembered teen found in his Tesla
d4vd, whose real name is David Burke, is identified as the "Target" of a Los Angeles County grand jury investigation into the death of a 14-year-old girl. Court filings say Burke has been the subject of the probe since November and that his Tesla contained the victim's remains when it was opened.
Court filings name D4vd
The unsealed Texas court documents explicitly label "Target David Burke" and state that the target "may have committed a criminal offense in California, to wit: One count of Murder. " The petition further states that the target "may be involved in the death of 14-year-old victim Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who may have been a victim of foul play. "
Gruesome discovery in Tesla
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Burke's Tesla on Sept. 8 after a tow yard worker noticed a rotting smell emanating from the vehicle. When detectives opened the vehicle's front storage compartment, they found "a black cadaver bag covered with insects and a strong odor of decay. " Detectives partially unzipped the bag and found "a decomposed head and torso. " Criminalists and medical examiners then processed the remains.
Two bags, severed limbs found
The subpoenas note that "upon removing the cadaver bag from the front storage compartment, it was discovered the arms and legs had been severed from the body. " A second black bag was discovered underneath the first. "Upon opening the second bag, the dismembered body parts were discovered. " The victim was identified as 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Subpoenas, dates and judges
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman issued subpoenas on Jan. 15, which were approved by Superior Court Judge Craig Richman. The First Court of Appeals in Texas on Feb. 9 denied petitions from Burke's father, mother and brother to ignore those subpoenas. The family had filed a legal challenge in Texas to the subpoenas seeking to have the relatives avoid testifying in Los Angeles.
Family, witnesses and grand jury
The subpoenas sought testimony from Burke's father Dawud, mother Colleen, and brother Caleb, who court records show reside in Texas. Their attorney says they are still fighting the appearance and argue that their due process rights are being violated. Lawyers for the trio could not be reached for comment. A friend of Burke, Neo Langston, was arrested in Montana after ignoring a subpoena and was recently forced to return to Los Angeles to testify. Prosecutors began presenting evidence to a grand jury in November, described in filings as an investigative grand jury, and numerous witnesses have been called, including one of Burke's managers.
Legal posture in Texas
A Texas appeals court footnote refers to the "underlying case" as "The People of the State of California v. David Burke, " pending in the 506th District Court of Waller County, Texas, with Judge Gary W. Chaney presiding. The filings note there is no public case with that name, and that grand jury proceedings are confidential. Burke has been the subject of the probe since November.
The documents and filings say detectives have spent months investigating the circumstances surrounding Celeste Rivas Hernandez's death and her relationship with D4vd. The filings also note that Burke's Tesla sat abandoned on a street in the Hollywood Hills for several weeks. D4vd's publicist had not responded as of that report.
Months have passed since the gruesome discovery, and the court records and subpoenas are central to the continuing grand jury proceedings.
