Possible bloodstains were detected at D4vd’s home, law enforcement testify

Possible bloodstains were detected at D4vd: Blood Evidence and Financial Motive Take Center Stage in D4vd Murder Trial Hearing Wanderstayfinder.com &ndash

Blood Evidence and Financial Motive Take Center Stage in D4vd Murder Trial Hearing

Wanderstayfinder.com – Law enforcement officials discovered potential bloodstains at the former Hollywood Hills residence of singer D4vd, though these marks remained invisible without specialized testing. The forensic team identified traces on several household items, including a green tarp, black rubber floor mats, and a crumpled inflatable swimming pool that carried the scent of recently laundered clothing. These revelations emerged on Wednesday during the second day of proceedings designed to establish whether sufficient grounds exist for the musician to face trial.

David Anthony Burke, the artist known professionally as D4vd, faces multiple serious charges related to the death and sexual abuse of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed the fourteen-year-old girl at his Los Angeles home, allegedly to prevent her from exposing the sexual nature of their relationship and threatening his rapidly ascending music career. The teenager’s remains were discovered the previous year inside a vehicle registered to Burke, found under disturbing circumstances.

Forensic Evidence from the Garage and Vehicle

Last September, Lauren Wallace, a criminalist employed by the Los Angeles police department, located two chainsaws stored in the garage of the Hollywood Hills property where the Houston-raised performer had been residing. Laboratory testing revealed that these chainsaws showed no signs of blood contamination. However, Wallace testified that the rubber mats covering the garage floor likely contained bloodstains, noting that linear cuts consistent with sharp instrument damage were visible on their surfaces.

Wallace also documented damage to the inflatable pool, stating that it appeared to have been cut. Meanwhile, Chelsea Murillo, another forensic specialist within the LAPD’s science division, conducted a thorough examination of the 2023 black Tesla Model X that held Rivas Hernandez’s remains. Murillo explained that a layer of dust on the vehicle’s exterior indicated it had remained outdoors for an extended duration. Inside the front trunk compartment, she observed both maggots and flies. Despite the presence of multiple air fresheners, a strong odor resembling decomposing flesh emanated from the car.

Financial Stakes and Defense Challenges

During Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecutors worked to demonstrate that Burke possessed substantial financial motivation to eliminate Rivas Hernandez. An executive from the singer’s former record label, Interscope, confirmed that Burke held a multimillion-dollar recording agreement. The label ended his contract in December 2025. According to payment summaries presented in court, Interscope disbursed more than $7.2 million to Burke and related entities between 2022 and 2025, a sum that included legal expenses and a California-mandated trust for underage performers.

Defense attorney Blair Berk questioned the conclusiveness of the forensic findings. When cross-examining Murillo, Berk pointed out that the tests were only presumptive, asking whether they definitively proved blood was present. Murillo confirmed that while the tests suggested blood, they did not provide absolute certainty. Berk’s line of questioning reflected the defense’s broader strategy of casting doubt on prosecution evidence.

Family Presence and Additional Discoveries

Rivas Hernandez’s parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, attended the hearing on Wednesday. Both wore black clothing and sat in the front row alongside their attorney. Martinez became emotional during the afternoon session when prosecutors displayed a photograph of her daughter’s passport. A Caltrans employee had discovered the passport in January 2026 within a dirt embankment near State Route 154 in Santa Barbara.

Sean Buenrostro, a California highway patrol officer, testified about the discovery. He explained that after finding the card, he searched online to determine if it belonged to a local resident. Upon reading news articles about the case, he realized the significance of his find and contacted dispatch immediately.

At the hearing’s commencement, prosecutors presented graphic images showing Rivas Hernandez’s dismembered body, alleging that Burke had severely mutilated her remains. They also introduced evidence suggesting the singer used his credit cards to buy chainsaws, a body bag, and a shovel. Burke, who is now twenty-one years old, was taken into custody in April and has remained detained without bail. The preliminary hearing is projected to span between three and five days.

“It’s only presumptive. It doesn’t mean you found blood,” defense attorney Blair Berk stated during her cross-examination of forensic specialist Chelsea Murillo.

“Yes,” Murillo replied, acknowledging that while the tests indicated blood presence, they were not definitive proof.