D4vd asked a judge for a haircut and fresh clothes ahead of his preliminary hearing as he faces serious charges tied to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the 21-year-old’s legal team requested that he be allowed to wear dress pants and a button-down shirt for the Friday hearing, but the judge denied that request, meaning he’ll appear in standard jail-issued attire.
He did, however, get 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” artist was arrested on April 16 in connection to Rivas’ death and has since been charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains.
His arrest came seven months after Rivas’ decomposed and dismembered body was discovered in the front trunk of his Tesla.
D4vd has pleaded not guilty and remains behind bars without bail. If convicted, he could face life in prison, with a decision on whether prosecutors will pursue the death penalty to be made later.
His legal team continues to stand by his innocence, stating 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.” Family members also shared through an attorney that they fully support him and believe he is innocent.
During a court appearance on Thursday (April 23), prosecutors said they reviewed his phone and allegedly found a “significant amount” of child pornography, though it’s still unclear if any involved Rivas.
A statement from the Los Angeles district attorney’s office further alleges that D4vd (born David Anthony Burke) “personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime.”
Autopsy findings obtained by TMZ and released last week stated that Rivas died from two “penetrating wounds of the torso with smooth edges that may represent sharp force injuries,” with her death ruled a homicide.
Her remains were found last September in the Tesla registered to D4vd, which had been impounded after being reported abandoned. Rivas was last seen on April 23, 2025, when she visited the singer’s Hollywood Hills rental home.
At the time of the discovery, D4vd was on tour supporting his Withered album and even performed on Sept. 9 at The Fillmore in Minneapolis after news of the case surfaced.
Following the developments, his remaining tour dates were canceled, and a planned deluxe edition of Withered appears to have been scrapped.
Rivas’ family broke their silence on April 21, thanking the Los Angeles Police Department and the district attorney’s office for their efforts.
“Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together,” part of the statement read. “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.”
