Courtrooms can be quiet places, but during the preliminary hearing for singer D4vd, the silence carried a heavy weight. Dr. Grant Ho took the stand in Los Angeles to walk through the forensic reality of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death. It wasn't clean, and it certainly wasn't simple.
If you've been following the murder charges against David Burke—known professionally as the alt-pop artist D4vd—you know the broad strokes already. Authorities found the girl's dismembered, decomposed remains inside a towed Tesla in September. But Friday’s testimony brought the scientific limits and graphic realities of the case into sharp relief. Also making news lately: Why The Tate Brothers Are Stuck Behind Bars While Their Extradition Plays Out.
Here is what the autopsy doctor actually said under oath, how the defense plans to attack it, and what it means for the trial decision ahead.
The Medical Examiner's Testimony on Fatal Wounds
Dr. Grant Ho, a deputy medical examiner with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, detailed the physical condition of Rivas Hernandez’s remains. He confirmed that her death was classified as a homicide resulting from two sharp force penetrating injuries to her upper torso. More information into this topic are detailed by Associated Press.
Specifically, one wound penetrated her upper abdomen and entered her liver. Another wound struck her left chest, causing damage to her ribs. Investigators noted that a tube top found with the body contained three distinct cuts corresponding to these strikes.
When asked by Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman about how long those injuries would take to cause death, Ho testified that it would take minutes at a minimum for someone to bleed out from those trauma points. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged it could potentially take up to an hour, though he declined to give an absolute timeframe due to individual physiological factors.
The physical degradation of the body presented massive obstacles for the medical team. Because the remains were left in a vehicle trunk for months before discovery, postmortem changes were severe. The degradation was so extreme that examiners could not determine basic physical characteristics like eye color.
What the Autopsy Could Not Prove
In high-profile criminal cases, what forensic science cannot tell you is often just as crucial as what it can. The defense team, led by attorney Marilyn Bednarski, focused almost entirely on the scientific gaps created by the body's condition.
- Exact Time of Death: Ho testified that he could only confirm the victim had been dead for "at least weeks," agreeing with prosecutors that it could potentially be four to five months. He could not pinpoint an exact date or time.
- Toxicology Reading Uncertainties: Initial screening of liver tissue—the only testable sample available—showed traces of alcohol and potential positives for benzodiazepines and methamphetamine. However, follow-up testing ruled out benzodiazepines, while the methamphetamine result remained inconclusive. Ho stated there was insufficient evidence to cite a drug overdose as the cause of death. He noted that low levels of alcohol can naturally form in decomposing tissue due to bacterial activity.
- Pre-Mortem Struggle: The medical examiner testified that he could not determine whether a physical struggle occurred prior to death, nor could he confirm the exact orientation or position of the victim when the wounds were inflicted.
- Absence of Hesitation Marks: While Ho noted that self-inflicted knife wounds usually leave superficial hesitation marks, none were identified. Still, when pressed by the defense, he admitted he could not definitively rule out alternative scenarios solely based on the physical tissue present.
How the Prosecution Builds Its Chain of Evidence
Prosecutors allege that Burke initiated an illegal relationship with Rivas Hernandez when she was 13 years old and he was 18. They argue that when the victim threatened to go public with the relationship—an act that would destroy his music career—Burke stabbed her in April 2025 and dismembered her body roughly two weeks later inside his garage.
To support this narrative beyond the autopsy report, prosecutors introduced forensic evidence gathered from Burke's residence:
- Police analysts testified that DNA extracted from apparent bloodstains inside Burke's garage matched Rivas Hernandez.
- Law enforcement records showed the Tesla where the remains were discovered was owned by Burke before being towed.
- Forensic digital evidence and communications were submitted to establish the timeline of contact between Burke and the teenager prior to her disappearance.
Burke, who sat quietly in orange jail attire alongside his counsel throughout the medical testimony, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, and body mutilation.
Key Legal Differences in Preliminary Hearings
Understanding why this testimony matters requires knowing how a preliminary hearing works in California. This isn't the actual criminal trial. No jury is present.
Instead, a judge evaluates whether the District Attorney's office has presented sufficient probable cause to hold the defendant for trial. The standard of proof is considerably lower than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" threshold required for a conviction at trial. The judge simply decides if enough credible evidence exists to justify keeping the charges active.
Steps for Following the Case
If you're tracking the legal proceedings, keep an eye on these milestones over the coming days:
- Monitor the judge's formal ruling at the end of the preliminary hearing regarding whether the case proceeds to superior court trial.
- Track upcoming pretrial motions from the defense regarding the admissibility of garage DNA samples and disputed toxicology findings.
- Review official court transcripts from the Los Angeles Superior Court clerk's office as formal filings become public record.
