Overview
- David Anthony Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty Monday and remains in custody after prosecutors urged a no‑bail hold.
- Burke faces first‑degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of human remains, with prosecutors alleging lying in wait, silencing a witness, and financial gain that could bring life without parole or the death penalty if proven.
- Prosecutors say Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was last known to be alive on April 23, 2025, after going to Burke’s Hollywood Hills home, and court filings allege her remains were mutilated on or about May 5, 2025 with a sharp instrument.
- Investigators said the months between the death and the body’s discovery degraded key evidence, forcing a heavy reliance on digital records and forensic review during a long LAPD Robbery‑Homicide probe.
- District Attorney Nathan Hochman said he met the girl’s family and pledged to deliver proof beyond a reasonable doubt, while Burke’s attorneys said they will vigorously contest the charges.