Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hello, listeners. Today, we're sharing a preview of the new 48 Hours podcast, Case by Case. It's a weekly update on the criminal cases everyone's talking about, hosted by the trusted 48 Hours team of correspondents. From high-profile trials to stunning breaks in cold cases, as major news unfolds, we'll help you understand what matters, why it matters, and what could happen next. Take a listen.
We're going to start things off with a trigger warning. Now, some of the reporting is disturbing that you're going to be listening to, but please watch and listen with care.
Today I am announcing the charges against David Anthony Burke, the musician known as David, spelled D-4-V-D, in connection with the brutal and horrific murder of Celeste, a 14-year-old at that time.
That was Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hockman announcing the charges against 21-year-old singer-songwriter David Anthony Burke. He goes by the stage name David for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The district attorney calls this case a parent's nightmare and says there is significant physical, forensic, and digital evidence tying David to the crime.
David Burke has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. He has denied any wrongdoing. His legal team released a statement, and this is what they said. Let us be clear. 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.
I'm 48 Hours correspondent Natalie Morales, and this is Case by Case, where each week, the team here from 48 Hours, we bring you the biggest stories in true crime in real time. And with me now to discuss the latest legal details in the charges against David Burke is CBS chief correspondent Matt Gutman, who's been covering this case from when it first broke back in September.
Good to see you again, Matt.
Hey, good to be with you again, Natalie.
So, Matt, give us the play by play here legally. Where is this case right now?
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Chapter 2: What led to the charges against D4vd in Celeste Rivas Hernandez's case?
And it was later identified as Celeste. And I remember sitting in the bureau watching this unfold because there were helicopters over it, watching the work that they were doing. We weren't quite sure what was going on. but something was clearly found in this Tesla, in this tow yard, and lots of people in LA were seeing it unfold live.
It's just so awful. I mean, hearing that and, you know, thinking about what her parents, you know, how they were told and hearing all of these details about how their daughter was found. Question I have, though, I mean, this car found in this Hollywood tow lot, of course, it's registered to David. It's going to lead right back to him. He has denied any wrongdoing.
But, you know, why did it take now more than seven months to get to this point where they charge him now?
It was pretty quick that we learned that it was his car. So his name was out there early on. But again, the manner of death took a while to get to. And I think for most intents and purposes, the DA's office was keeping their cards very close to the vest. They were probably trying to protect witnesses, trying to protect evidence that might have come out. And this is a high profile case.
We're talking about a musician who is exploding online, who's doing a national tour, going abroad. Very, very popular. And they were trying to do all they could to protect their case.
I'm sure that they were building in that time as much evidence as they could to make this arrest, right?
Yeah, I mean... This is something that I think the press has asked for from the very start. We were curious about the manner of death, and typically the medical examiner's report will be released. It wasn't in this case. In fact, the LAPD. Initiated a court order preventing the medical examiner from releasing its findings.
And, you know, I just want to read to you this quote from the press release from the chief medical examiner, because clearly there was very significant tension between the medical examiner, the LAPD and the D.A. So this is what they wrote, quote. It is unfathomable that they've had to wait, the families had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter.
The transparency of the information contained in our findings and reports is essential for empowering the community to make informed changes to actively reduce fear and allowing the community to take informed action. This is the public's right to know. And the medical examiner in an extraordinary, I mean, I've never seen something like this report.
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Chapter 3: What evidence is presented against David Anthony Burke?
Obviously, of course, Celeste's body was mutilated.
Oh, gosh. And again, I go back to what Celeste's family was feeling and hearing all of this information. They, in fact, have since now spoken and have shared that these findings have caused them profound emotional pain, as you would expect.
It has. And, you know, during the arraignment on Monday, they were in attendance, but they've said that they're not going to be there. The preliminary hearing, it's just too painful for them, I think.
Yeah, I can only imagine. Let's talk about the popularity of David as a musician. I mean, as you alluded to, he was very successful, just 21 years old. And, you know, I mean, the number of hits and streaming views and listeners, it's I mean, this guy's career was on the rise when this happened.
um clearly a very very talented young individual and he gained a lot of attention online as a teenager by posting montages of himself playing fortnight um he claims he got into creating original music as a way to avoid copyright claims when soundtracking his montages which is very very interesting and indicative of this young man's talent
Yeah, and just looking at all of his accolades on Spotify, I mean, he's released two EPs, several, several singles, a full album from 2021 to 2025. I mean, he's had billions of streams at this point and 3.6 million followers on TikTok. He worked with Fortnite to produce their official 2025 anthem, Locked and Loaded. Hey!
You know, just going through his music and some of the videos that he's released, the one that caught my attention and a lot of people's as well, especially now in hindsight, is Romantic Homicide. You know, terrible title given the circumstances. The video shows him, though, as a character. I read one of his interviews. He says he was inspired by anime. This was sort of a character of his.
It was his inspiration. And it's his alter ego. And you see in that video, this character holding a bloody knife. There is a young woman. I mean, it's jarring seeing some of that now.
Obviously, David is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but it's not a great look. It's not a great look, especially since he also produced a song called Celeste. And the combination of these two things certainly has raised a lot of scrutiny.
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Chapter 4: How did the investigation into Celeste's death begin?
It's a homicide. Absolutely. The blame game in this family went round and round. This is Blood is Thicker, The Ferris Wheel. I don't see how anyone can look at this story and think they were happy. Binge the full series, Blood is Thicker, The Ferris Wheel, on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.