🚨 D4vd Preliminary Hearing Day 5 MORNING BREAK Recap @TaylorParise -LAPD Detective Corey Farrell walked the court through text messages exchanged between David Anthony Burke and 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in the days leading up to her death. According to Farrell, investigators recovered 8,000-9,000 text messages between the pair through Burke's iCloud account, with prosecutors focusing on conversations from April 22-26, 2025. -One exchange centered on Burke's friendship with Aysia Collins, which appeared to create an argument. Celeste texted: "bro i said i didn't wanna be friends with you if you wanted to be friends with her." After Burke explained Collins had been at his 804 Doheny Drive home to pick up Coachella guest wristbands, Celeste responded with a series of increasingly angry messages, including: "oh my fen god i swear to GOD i will kill u... i will strangle u to fen death bro..." She also wrote: "i will tell my dad so many f*en lies about u... i will end ur career and ur life."** -Prosecutors then shifted to April 23, 2025, when Farrell testified Burke arranged an Uber to pick Celeste up from her family's street in Lake Elsinore. The messages included: D: "are u coming at 9" C: "get it to 33070..." D: "getting it." Farrell testified the address corresponded to the street where Celeste lived. Later that night, prosecutors showed what they characterized as the final communications between the two. At 10:10 p.m., Burke texted: "gate open door unlocked." Minutes later: "uber said ur here wya?" Then: "hellooo" "bro" "celeste" Farrell testified there were no additional messages from Celeste after that point. Burke continued sending messages: "bro blocking me?" "hello" "imma call Jen bro ur scaring me" Then later: "wtf" "where are u" "please" -Farrell testified investigators reviewed Uber records showing the Uber arrived at 10:10 p.m. Silverman then presented Tesla and cellular evidence they say showed Burke's Tesla and phone left his Hollywood Hills residence around 11:30 p.m., with navigation data later reflecting destinations including Lake Cachuma and a Tesla Supercharger in Santa Ynez. CROSS- EXAMINATION, BLAIR BERK -During cross-examination, defense attorney Blair Berk focused on the beginning of Burke and Celeste's relationship. She questioned Farrell about messages from August 2022, suggesting Celeste represented herself as 16 years old and Burke as 18 during their earliest online conversations. - Blair Berk introduced a 90-page exhibit containing text messages exchanged between D4vd and Celeste between April 22 and April 23, 2025. Berk told the court the defense prepared the exhibit using raw iCloud message data, arguing it had not previously had the benefit of a Cellebrite extraction. Prosecutor Beth Silverman immediately argued that, stating for the record that the defense had been provided the complete raw data and could analyze it however it wished. The exhibit was admitted as Exhibit Q. (Could not clearly see the messages on the courtroom monitors during this portion of testimony, so the following is based on what was read aloud in court.) -Berk then revisited messages prosecutors introduced during direct examination. She had Detective Corey Farrell confirm that Celeste texted Burke: "oh my f’en god I swear to GOD i will kill u... i will strangle u to fen death bro... i will tell my dad so many f***en lies about u... i will end ur career and ur life..." Farrell responded, "Yes." As the exchange was read aloud, Burke looked down. Berk then directed Farrell to messages she said immediately preceded that exchange, asking him to confirm that Celeste had also texted: "I will straight up mutilate your penis." Farrell answered, "Correct." Berk next highlighted Burke's response, which Farrell also confirmed: "you have turned it into a bigger thing than this conversation right now. That's how it goes with you. The only way shit makes sense is when I don't tell you until after the fact... you don't listen to me." According to Berk, after the messages threatening to lie to her father, ruin Burke's career and kill him, Celeste sent another message about a minute later stating: "nuhhuh I don't even play like that. I'll [be] knocking the door crying on some crazy shit, you guys been dating." -Berk also asked Farrell whether more than 1,200 text messages were exchanged between Burke and Celeste during the April 22-23 timeframe. Farrell testified he did not know the exact number but said it would not surprise him. -Berk then moved to another series of messages dated April 23, 2025, reading additional portions aloud. According to the exhibit, Burke texted: "why do you think? You just proved my exact point." Celeste responded: "you have one more chance bro to tell me the truth." She followed with: "bro, tell me the truth david and bro i wont say anything. Tell me the truth david." Berk also highlighted another exchange in which Burke wrote: "how u gonna say u feel distance when u been pushing me away since the beginning of the year." Celeste replied: "If i see you with Aysia one more time... I will make anonymous accounts, you won't be able to avoid [me] leaking all that shit i got about you." -Berk then moved to another portion of the exhibit, directing Detective Farrell to Page 83, where she read additional messages aloud. According to Berk, Celeste texted: "next minute also and I have all the old numbers from my old phone printed so i can find your moms number to text her anytime, so don't test me." Burke responded simply: "ok" followed by a laughing emoji. Celeste then allegedly wrote: "I also have Nathan's fiance on my phone as well, so word will spread to your work girl." -Berk then shifted to what appeared to be a theme of the cross. She asked Farrell whether, throughout the messages in which Celeste threatened Burke, she ever said she intended to report him to police or participate in a criminal prosecution. Farrell testified: "She didn't use those words," though he added the messages did reference making information public. Berk confirmed with Farrell that the messages included threats involving: -Telling Burke's mother: Yes. -Killing Burke: Yes. -Leaking information: Yes. She then asked whether Farrell ever saw Celeste write that she intended to go to law enforcement. Farrell answered: "No." The defense next highlighted another April 23 exchange. Burke texted: "I know, you ended the friendship like 10 times." Burke, who had stared at the courtroom monitors throughout direct examination, was now looking down as the messages were read. Seconds later, according to Berk, Burke changed the subject, asking: "When you come, are you going to want food because I'm going to be starving." Celeste replied: "sure what kind" Burke answered: "I'm feeling In-N-Out." -Berk then focused on what investigators learned about Burke and Celeste's relationship prior to April 2025. Farrell testified investigators determined Celeste's family knew about the relationship before April 2025. He also agreed investigators learned that, before she was reported missing in 2024, Celeste's parents permitted her to live in Los Angeles with her aunt, where Burke also lived. -Farrell further testified investigators learned that Celeste's aunt and cousins were aware of the relationship, and that text messages indicated Burke attended church with Celeste's family. He also agreed Burke had picked Celeste up to go to the mall. -Berk asked whether investigators determined Celeste's adult sister knew about the relationship and went with them to Las Vegas. Farrell clarified that the sister traveled separately and stayed at a different hotel, but confirmed investigators were aware of those circumstances. -Berk then brought up who knew of Burke and Celeste's relationship before the homicide investigation began. She first asked whether investigators determined Celeste's school friends knew about the relationship prior to the initial missing person report in February 2024. Farrell answered yes. He also confirmed Burke's mother was aware of the relationship. ****Celeste's family entered the courtroom during this portion of the testimony. -The defense next introduced a four-page, notarized child travel consent form dated September 23, 2024. Berk asked whether investigators confirmed Celeste's parents signed the document authorizing Burke to take her to London. Farrell responded: "Correct." -The defense also displayed what Berk described as a photograph from an online Discord gaming room. Farrell testified he did not remember that particular image and explained he could not authenticate it because investigators had reviewed such a large volume of photographs during the investigation. -Berk next suggested Burke's coworkers knew he and Celeste were in a relationship. Farrell disagreed with that characterization. He testified he would not describe it that way, explaining that while some coworkers knew who Celeste was, they were not aware of the relationship to the extent he had previously testified. Berk then asked whether Burke's coworkers attended Coachella with Burke and Celeste. Farrell answered: "Correct." -Berk asked whether producer Grey Toomey had socialized with Burke and Celeste together. Farrell testified: "I did not know this." Berk continued by questioning Detective Farrell about additional aspects of the investigation that she argued demonstrated Burke and Celeste's relationship was not hidden. -She asked whether investigators confirmed Celeste attended one of Burke's performances at the Fonda Theatre with members of Burke's family. Farrell responded: "Correct." -Berk told the court investigators had learned through the April 22-23 text messages that Celeste had previously committed domestic violence against Burke, but Silverman immediately objected, arguing the line of questioning was irrelevant. Berk responded that it went directly to issues of intent, malice and the special-circumstance allegation, arguing it was relevant to whether the prosecution could establish planning. Judge Charlaine Olmedo disagreed. -She reminded counsel that the proceeding was a preliminary hearing, not a trial, and was limited to determining probable cause. The judge ruled the proposed testimony was not relevant because Celeste is not the person charged in the case. Judge Olmedo added that if the defense intended to pursue a theory such as self-defense at trial, it would need to present evidence supporting that defense at the appropriate time. -Berk next attempted to question Farrell about text messages in which, according to the defense, Celeste frequently referenced "BPD." Before Farrell could elaborate, Silverman again objected on relevance grounds. Judge Olmedo sustained the objection, ruling the line of questioning was not relevant to the issues before the court at the preliminary hearing. Still unsure of what “BPD” means. -Berk then told the court that Celeste referred on multiple occasions about wanting to kill herself, and then asked Detective Farrell whether he recalled seeing those messages during the investigation. Farrell responded: "I did see that, yes. I don't know about multiple occasions, though." -Berk then returned to the prosecution's earlier testimony regarding the Uber ride to Burke's home on April 23, 2025. She suggested that, when looking at the context of the text conversations, it was Celeste who initiated discussions about seeing Burke and insisted on coming to his house. Farrell testified he remembered Celeste asking to see Burke, but said he did not recall the specific number of times. -Berk asserted that Celeste had asked to see Burke at least seven times during those exchanges. Farrell replied that he could not remember the exact number. -Reading from Defense Exhibit Q, Berk highlighted one exchange from 6:08 p.m. on April 22, in which Celeste texted: "am I able to see you on thursday at all" Burke responded: "no." Berk then referenced another message sent at 6:29 p.m., in which Celeste wrote: "I can't be f*ing friend with you anymore. Find the quickest date for me to see you.” -The defense appeared to use these exchanges to argue that the communications reflected Celeste repeatedly initiating contact and seeking to spend time with Burke, possibly insinuating he did not lure her. -Celeste then texted: "bro there's no possible way I cannot see you at all this week... Like, I can't even see you at midnight?" Burke replied: "i think its love because you're the only one to ever show me that but its never happiness." Celeste responded: "Explain why I can't see you before Singapore." Burke answered: "because my parents are here and I wanna have an in person conversation. Why do I have to see you before Singapore." The exchange continued, with Celeste writing: "Proof of your parents being there? I don't trust you... Flights or something? I don't trust you." Burke responded: "I'm busy tomorrow." He later added: "I see a need to talk in person. Why do we have to see each other before I'm back?" According to Berk, Celeste continued asking to meet, sending messages including: "Let me see you Wednesday night." and "I can see you tomorrow, I can dead go to Riverside too." Berk then moved to another exchange from 10:25 p.m. on April 22, in which Celeste texted: "well we need to talk in person please man." Burke replied: "no." -Berk also pointed to another message from April 23 at 10:09, arguing Celeste again pressed Burke to see her, continuing what the defense characterized as repeated requests by Celeste to meet with him in the days leading up to April 23. Before the line of questioning continued, Prosecutor Beth Silverman objected, it’s overruled. -Burke finally agrees to see Celeste, per the texts. -The defense went back to the the Uber trip that prosecutors emphasized during direct examination. Berk pointed out that, according to the text messages, it was Celeste who suggested Burke order the Uber at 8:30 p.m. Detective Farrell agreed that the message originated from Celeste. -Berk also noted that at 10:02 p.m., Celeste sent Burke another message stating she was almost there and asking him to open the door if he was home. Farrell again agreed that those messages were sent by Celeste. -Berk then questioned whether investigators could actually determine that Burke himself was home when those messages were sent. Farrell testified that Burke's cellphone consistently appeared to be at the residence based on the available location data. -Berk then went back to reconstruct Burke's activities before Celeste arrived at his home on April 23, 2025. -She asked Detective Farrell whether investigators attempted to determine what Burke was doing during the hour before the Uber dropped Celeste off. Farrell initially said he did not understand the question. Berk rephrased, asking whether, as part of the investigation, detectives sought to determine Burke's activities in the hour leading up to the drop-off. -Farrell replied that he did not specifically remember investigating that. -Berk then asked whether they learned Burke had been playing a virtual reality video game with two other people. After a brief pause, Farrell responded: "Oh, yes." -Berk continued, confirming that Burke had been using a VR headset, playing a game and browsing movies while interacting with two other individuals. She then suggested that those activities occurred during the time Celeste was traveling to Burke's home in the Uber. -Farrell agreed with the timeline presented and then they revisited the prosecution's timeline. -Berk confirmed with Farrell that investigators determined the Uber dropped Celeste off at approximately 10:10 p.m. on April 23. "Correct," Farrell testified. -She then confirmed that Burke texted Celeste asking where she was at approximately 10:31 p.m. Again, Farrell responded: "Correct." -Berk then summarized the prosecution's timeline, asking whether investigators concluded Celeste died sometime between 10:10 p.m. and 10:31 p.m. Farrell agreed that the investigative timeline placed the relevant events within that approximately 20-minute window.

D4VD Preliminary Hearing: Court is on a brief recess. I'll post a full video update at lunch with everything that happened this morning. For now, here are some of the biggest moments from testimony so far (I'm going backwards). ⚠️ Trigger warning: The evidence discussed and shown in court is extremely graphic. @LAmag D4vd appeared in court without handcuffs but remained restrained with a waist chain. Throughout the proceedings, he appeared calm and relaxed, sitting back in his chair. As prosecutors displayed graphic crime scene photographs, he kept his eyes fixed on the courtroom monitors and did not appear to look away. Very striking. D.A. Hochman is sitting in the second row. 🚨 STATE SECOND WITNESS LAPD Robbery-Homicide Detective Joshua Byers testified he responded to a Hollywood tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025, after employees reported a strong odor coming from a black Tesla registered to David Burke. Detective Joshua Byers testified investigators obtained a search warrant after tow yard employees reported the odor. Inside the Tesla's front trunk, they discovered a partially unzipped black body bag containing dismembered human remains. ****I had a hard time looking at the photographs and exhibits shown in court today, as did several other reporters. D4vd, however, never appeared to look away. He kept his eyes fixed on the screen for the entire presentation. ⚠️ GRAPHIC We were shown photographs from inside the Tesla's front trunk depicting the body bag, with severed limbs- arms and legs; covered in blood, insect activity, and decomposing. The bags and the body parts were wet and bloody- we saw the bag closed inside of the "frunk," and then opened on the ground. Detective Byers testified the remains also included a torso, head, and severed extremities. We saw another bloody photo of the head and torso, and I believe I saw some black curly hair. He also noted blue plastic or fiber fragments embedded in the cut surfaces of some limbs, including near a kneecap. Detective Byers further testified the victim's left ring finger and pinky finger had been amputated, along with the right index finger with the Shhhh. Due to advanced decomposition, he said he could not identify the victim's face because of "skin slippage." ---------- FIRST STATE WITNESS The prosecution's first witness, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sr. Deputy Juan Gonzalez, testified he responded to David Burke's home on Feb. 17, 2024, to conduct a welfare check after Riverside County investigators reported 13-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez missing. Deputy Juan Gonzalez testified David Burke told him he met Celeste through social media and Discord in 2020 or 2021, had only met her once in person, and believed she was 18 years old because "she told me she was 18." Deputy Gonzalez testified Burke told investigators the last time he spoke with Celeste was Feb. 13, 2024, and the last time he saw her was Nov. 12, 2023. Burke also showed deputies a sixth-grade yearbook photo of Celeste and a missing-person flyer during the welfare check. Of Note: Celeste looked about 11 years old in the yearbook photo D4vd had, and she was wearing a batman sweatshirt. Deputies searched Burke's Doheny Drive home with his consent while looking for Celeste. Gonzalez testified he noticed some Hello Kitty items but said Burke explained it was an "artist house" where other people frequently stayed. Body camera footage shown in court captured Burke telling deputies, "She told me she's 18, but everyone is saying she's 13," while providing Celeste's phone number and discussing how they met. During cross-examination, Burke's attorney Regina Peter emphasized that Burke was cooperative, voluntarily provided Celeste's information, and repeatedly stated he believed she was 18 years old. On redirect, prosecutors asked whether Burke ever told deputies he had been in a sexual relationship with Celeste or helped her leave her home, as the defense was insinuating he had been cooporative with officers and told the truth. Defense attorneys objected before the questions were answered, and the judge sustained the objection. More later! @LAmag

D4vd Preliminary Hearing Tomorrow @ 8:30AM PST, before Judge Charlaine Olmedo. No cameras.