Overview of Dateline True Crime Weekly from NBC News
This episode covers several major true-crime developments: the preliminary hearing in the murder case against musician D4vd (David Anthony Burke), the murder trial of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy, and a roundup of other high-profile cases involving Nolan Wells, Larry Miliete, and alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. The show also features insight from a retired FBI profiler on how behavioral analysts interview serial killers and build criminal profiles.
Key Story: The Case Against D4vd
What prosecutors allege
- Singer-songwriter D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke), who rose to fame on TikTok, is accused of:
- First-degree murder
- Continuous sexual abuse of a minor
- Mutilation of human remains
- Prosecutors say he had a sexual relationship with Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was 13 when the alleged relationship began and 14 when her remains were found.
- Celeste’s body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla linked to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard in September.
Evidence highlighted at the preliminary hearing
- A deputy sheriff testified that:
- Burke and Celeste met on Discord
- Burke said Celeste told him she was 18
- The deputy told him she was actually 13
- Burke responded, “No, no, no, no” when asked if she looked 13
- An LAPD detective testified about:
- Graphic photos of Celeste’s remains
- Digital evidence showing Burke allegedly ordered body bags on Amazon
- Alleged purchases of multiple chainsaws
- Prosecutors are trying to show Burke planned the body disposal and had knowledge of Celeste’s age.
Motive theory
- Prosecutors claim Burke may have wanted Celeste dead because she could threaten his career and expose the relationship.
- A financial manager testified Burke earned $10–11 million in gross income between 2023 and 2025.
- The defense pushed back, noting that the manager mostly spoke with Burke’s mother and likely didn’t know the full financial stakes.
What’s next
- The preliminary hearing was expected to continue through the week.
- More text messages and details about the night before Celeste died were expected to be presented.
Massachusetts Trial: Lindsay Clancy
Case background
- Lindsay Clancy, a labor and delivery nurse from Duxbury, Massachusetts, is on trial for the deaths of her three children:
- Cora
- Dawson
- Callan
- Prosecutors say she strangled them in the basement of the family home on January 24, 2023, then attempted to take her own life by jumping from a second-story window.
Competing theories
- Prosecution: Lindsay planned the killings and may have staged the suicide attempt.
- Defense: She was in the grip of psychosis, driven by postpartum depression and medication.
Important legal point
- In Massachusetts, the defense is framed as lack of criminal responsibility rather than a traditional insanity defense.
- The prosecution must prove Lindsay knew what she was doing and understood it was wrong.
- The defense must prove her mental state was so impaired that she could not control her actions.
Family and public response
- Lindsay’s husband, Patrick Clancy, has publicly supported her, asking people to forgive her.
- The case has drawn significant sympathy, donations, and support from some of Lindsay’s colleagues.
- Jury selection began with plans to seat 18 jurors, including alternates.
Dateline Roundup
Nolan Wells death investigation
- Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black teenager from Mississippi, died under mysterious circumstances after a July 4 boat party.
- His family continues to question:
- Why friends left him behind
- Why one friend had his phone
- Whether race played a role
- At his funeral:
- Family members gave emotional tributes
- Rev. Al Sharpton called for a thorough investigation
- Ben Crump led a “Justice for Nolan Wells” chant
- A private autopsy found:
- Cause and manner of death: undetermined
- Some red discoloration on the back of Nolan’s head
- No definitive explanation yet
- No charges have been filed.
Larry Miliete weapons case
- Larry Miliete, recently convicted of murdering his wife Maya, was back in court on an unrelated weapons charge.
- He pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered assault weapon.
- He has already served more than four years in custody, which exceeds the likely sentence on the gun charge.
- Sentencing for both cases is set for September 29.
Interview: What FBI Profilers Learn from Serial Killers
Guest: retired FBI profiler Jim Clemente
- Clemente explained how behavioral analysts build a profile by studying:
- Victimology
- Crime scenes
- Geographic patterns
- Behavioral details
- He said the profile of Rex Heuermann fit key details long before Heuermann was identified:
- A connection to the disposal area
- A meticulous personality
- A likely home life that allowed him to act while family members were away
What an interview with a serial killer looks like
- FBI analysts will likely question Heuermann about:
- Childhood development
- Fantasy life
- Sexual history
- Crime patterns and motivations
- Clemente said interviewers must:
- Review the full case file
- Build rapport
- Keep emotional distance
- Sometimes appear to “feed” the offender’s ego so they open up
Why it matters
- Clemente emphasized that these interviews help protect future victims by improving investigative knowledge.
- He suggested the details of Heuermann’s FBI interview will probably remain internal for years.
Main Takeaways
- D4vd case: Prosecutors are building a case around underage sexual contact, digital evidence, and alleged planning around body disposal.
- Lindsay Clancy case: The central question is whether severe postpartum mental illness removed her criminal responsibility.
- Nolan Wells: The family still has unanswered questions, and the autopsy has not resolved the cause of death.
- Larry Miliete: The murder case is essentially over, with a separate weapons matter now closing out.
- Rex Heuermann: FBI profiling relies on behavior-based analysis, not guesswork, and interviewers use structured psychological methods to extract information.