LOS ANGELES — Preliminary Hearing Scheduled for Murder Case
A judge is set to hear a case starting Tuesday, which centers on the murder and dismemberment of a 14-year-old girl. Authorities allege that a young man threatened by her intended disclosure of their relationship killed her.
Prosecutors are pointing fingers at a 21-year-old named David Burke. They claim he stabbed the girl multiple times at his Hollywood Hills residence and then used a chainsaw to dispose of her body.
The preliminary hearing in Los Angeles is anticipated to span roughly four days and will share some characteristics with a trial, although no jury will be present. Judge Charlaine Olmedo will determine if there’s sufficient evidence for the case to advance to trial.
This hearing marks the first public presentation of the evidence. Burke was arrested in April and he has pleaded not guilty to charges that include murder, continued sexual abuse, and unlawful mutilation of a minor. His attorney, Blair Burke, insists that his client is not responsible for the girl’s death.
Burke has been held without bail during this process and will appear in court wearing his jail uniform after reportedly refusing to don a suit for the hearing. The courtroom will not permit cameras.
After his arrest, prosecutors filed a memo that outlined their evidence, which the defense made attempts to seal, though unsuccessfully.
Burke and the victim had known each other for several years. The document presented indicates he began abusing her when she was just 11, continuing until he allegedly killed her at 13 after she threatened to report him.
The girl had been reported missing several times prior to her death. Authorities believe she spent significant time with Burke, including a trip to meet his family in Texas. Burke reportedly downplayed their relationship to investigators, claiming he only met her once and was unaware of her underage status. Evidence includes explicit messages exchanged between the two.
On the night of April 23, 2025, Burke reportedly drove to pick her up from Lake Elsinore and they communicated until her phone died shortly after arriving at his place. A legal document states that Burke, fearing for his music career, fatally stabbed her upon her arrival.
Additionally, prosecutors contend they have evidence linking Burke to the murder through his purchase of a chainsaw and other items to dismember her body. DNA belonging to the girl was found in the bloodstains collected by police during a search of his residence.
Afterwards, Burke allegedly kept her remains in the trunk of his car for several months. Her decomposed body was discovered in a Tesla about four months later, which had been towed from the Hollywood Hills neighborhood nearby his home.
While the timeline remains somewhat unclear, additional months passed before Burke’s arrest. Uncooperative witnesses were subpoenaed, and the final autopsy, confirming she had been stabbed, wasn’t released until December.
The defense has yet to disclose any case specifics.
Preliminary hearings like this are somewhat akin to grand jury sessions, with prosecutors only presenting the essential evidence, and witness lists kept brief—typically including law enforcement and investigative personnel. For defense teams, it’s a chance to evaluate the strength of testimonies ahead of an actual trial.
Burke, performing as D4vd, had been carving out a name for himself in music. He initially gained traction on YouTube crafting songs associated with the video game Fortnite. His work, blending various genres, caught on across platforms like TikTok and Spotify, with hits including “Romantic Homicide” surpassing a billion plays. He had opened for well-known artists and even performed at last year’s Coachella festival shortly before the murder was announced, and he continued to promote a project that subsequently led to his body being discovered months later.
