Hochman charges singer D4vd with capital murder of 14-year-old girl
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced yesterday that musician David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, was charged with the capital murder of 14-year-old Celeste R., whose decomposed and dismembered remains were found in the front trunk of his impounded car in September 2025.
“Celeste was just a child, under 14 years old, when David Burke allegedly engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations with her,” Hochman said. “But Burke’s actions did not allegedly stop there. When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car. There the dismembered body sat for over four months decomposing until it was found at a tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025. This horrific and gruesome murder committed by the charged sexual predator is shocking and appalling. To Celeste’s loved ones, we will get the justice you seek and deserve.”
Burke, 21, was charged with one count each of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
The complaint includes special circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait, as well as a special allegation that Burke personally used a sharp instrument to commit the crime.
According to prosecutors, Burke invited the victim to his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025. Celeste arrived and was never seen again. Her remains were discovered when the vehicle — reported abandoned — was retrieved from a tow yard more than four months later.
If convicted as charged, Burke faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
Bass and LAPD Chief McDonnell announce enhanced Valley burglary crackdown
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell announced yesterday an enhanced strategy to address a recent spate of residential burglaries along Ventura Boulevard and throughout the San Fernando Valley — a rollout that Bass tied directly to the budget she released the same day.
“We are deploying resources and acting strategically to halt this spate of burglaries and to catch the perpetrators,” Bass said. “This is why I have worked so hard to reverse the downward trend in the size of the LAPD. We need enough officers to act swiftly and strategically when crime patterns are revealed. This commitment to police hiring is reflected in the budget I released today.”
McDonnell said he understands the fear and frustration Valley residents are facing.
“Every victim deserves the full attention of the LAPD. We have deployed every available resource — from the elite officers of our Metropolitan Division to burglary detectives and Senior Lead Officers — to utilize advanced technology, coordinated intelligence, and real-time communication to identify, track, and arrest individual burglars and organized crews,” said McDonnell.
Under Bass’s direction, LAPD’s Operations-Valley Bureau has deployed extra patrols by patrol officers, detectives, and specialized units; high-visibility vehicle deployments; mobile license plate readers around high-risk areas; air support; active community engagement by Senior Lead Officers; and close collaboration with the Commercial Crimes Division and Robbery Homicide Division on high-value loss burglaries.
Vicki Nussbaum, Executive Director of the Studio City Business Improvement District, welcomed the announcement.
“It is encouraging to see departments working collaboratively across government to improve quality of life, enhance economic vitality, and restore confidence for residents, workers, and business owners along Ventura Blvd and throughout the San Fernando Valley,” Nussbaum said.
Padilla, Schiff lead push for Mars exploration funding in federal appropriations bill
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-California) and Adam Schiff (D-California), joined by Senators Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico), are pushing Senate appropriators to include at least $400 million in fiscal year 2027 funding for the Mars Sample Return mission in the upcoming Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
In a letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), the senators warned that the President’s latest budget proposal would cut $3.4 billion from NASA’s Science program and terminate more than 40 missions, jeopardizing U.S. leadership in space exploration.
“As we set sights on the high ground of space exploration, we must preserve our presence and talent, tackle the next challenges that enable eventual human missions to Mars, and build upon a foundation of success,” the senators wrote. “Any erosion of vital infrastructure and intellectual capital would deliver lasting damage to the U.S. economy and undermine our leadership on the global stage in science and technology.”
The Mars Sample Return mission is the top priority of the Planetary Science Decadal Survey, led by the scientific community.
Padilla has previously partnered across the aisle on space legislation, including the NASA Talent Exchange Program Act with Senators Andy Kim, Roger Wicker, and John Cornyn, and the Space Exploration Research Act with Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz.
