los angeles – KPRC 2 exclusively obtained new court documents from Los Angeles County that provide new information on the grand jury investigation of singer D4VD and prosecutors’ request to subpoena testimony from his father, David Burke, as a witness.
According to the documents, California prosecutors are seeking to have David Burke, who lives in Hempstead, Texas, travel to California to testify before a grand jury.
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The petition identifies David Burke, or D4VD, as the target of the grand jury investigation.
Records show that a grand jury investigation is currently pending in Los Angeles County involving allegations that David Burke “may have been involved in the death of the 14-year-old victim,” who has been identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The documents allege that the victim’s “severely decomposed, dismembered body” was found inside the front trunk of a black Tesla Model X on September 8, 2025.
Our first report: Mutilated, mutilated body found in vehicle registered to Houston singer D4vd
According to the filing:
- The vehicle was reported abandoned
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It was later cited and confiscated
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Tow yard personnel reported a strong smell of decay
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Detectives obtained a search warrant
The petition says that when investigators opened the front storage compartment, they found a black body bag containing human remains. A second bag reportedly contained additional dismembered body parts.
Court records show the Tesla was registered to David Burke at a Hempstead, Texas address.
The petition also describes Burke as “a singer and performance artist” who was reportedly on tour when the vehicle was seized.
Prosecutors argue that David Burke’s testimony is “important and essential” to the investigation.
David Burke is David Burke’s father and has a close relationship with him, the documents state.
More on DV4D: Texas deputies respond to home linked to D4vd amid discovery of body in Tesla trunk
The petition states that the prosecution has agreed to:
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Provide a round-trip plane ticket
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Provide transportation to and from the airport
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Provide protection from arrest or service of process when traveling to testify
Attendance was requested for not more than three days, starting on 11 February.
However, Burke’s lawyers submitted an application for a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that the Texas court order forcing him to testify before a California grand jury was unlawful.
In the petition, Burke’s legal team claimed he was denied due process because they did not receive complete, unredacted copies of the California certification documents supporting the subpoena request.
Court records show the application was heard in the 506th District Court of Waller County.
According to the order signed February 6, 2026, Judge Gary W. Cheney initially allowed the writ to be issued, but ultimately denied Burke’s habeas corpus request on the merits.
Following the verdict, Burke’s lawyers filed an appeal.
The matter is currently pending.
Grand jury proceedings are conducted in secret, and it is unclear when a decision may be made.
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