D4vd’s Defense Team Says Evidence Will Show D4vd Is NOT The Killer As CSAM Evidence Comes Out

Summary of D4vd’s Defense Team Says Evidence Will Show D4vd Is NOT The Killer As CSAM Evidence Comes Out

by Stephanie Soo

1h 6m•May 24, 2026
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Overview of D4vd’s Case Update

This episode is a court-focused update on the criminal case against D4vd (David Anthony Burke) in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Stephanie Soo breaks down the latest pretrial developments, the defense team’s push for more discovery, the prosecution’s unusually detailed filing, and the growing speculation around what the defense strategy may be. The discussion also covers the public fallout around alleged CSAM evidence, family statements, and how the upcoming preliminary hearing could shape the rest of the case.

Key Courtroom Developments

The defense wants more time and more evidence

  • Blair Burke, D4vd’s lead defense attorney, initially pushed for a quick preliminary hearing but later requested more time to prepare.
  • The hearing was delayed from an earlier date to late June.
  • The defense argued it had received very little discovery and wanted the prosecution’s evidence turned over sooner.

The prosecution says it has a massive amount of evidence

  • Deputy DA Beth Silverman said the case involves roughly 40–50 terabytes of data.
  • Discovery reportedly includes:
    • police reports
    • bodycam footage
    • forensic reports
    • DNA/trace evidence
    • vehicle and booking reports
    • sheriff and CHP records
  • Silverman told the court that even getting all of the material copied and uploaded is taking time.

The prosecution filed a pre-preliminary hearing brief

  • The DA’s office submitted a detailed brief outlining what it expects to prove.
  • The defense asked for it to be sealed, claiming it was one-sided and could prejudice future jurors.
  • The judge denied the request, saying LA County regularly handles high-profile cases and that the media attention here was not unusual for the court.

Defense Strategy and Attorney Profile

Blair Burke’s reputation is a major part of the conversation

  • Soo spends a lot of time discussing Blair Burke’s background, including her prior celebrity clients and her reputation as a high-profile defense attorney.
  • The episode highlights controversial comments Burke has made in past interviews about women, accusations, and public allegations.
  • Soo criticizes Burke’s public framing of sexual misconduct and women making accusations on social media, arguing that her comments are condescending and harmful.

The defense appears to be signaling innocence

  • D4vd’s team has said the evidence will show he did not murder Celeste and was not the cause of her death.
  • The episode suggests the defense may ultimately argue that Celeste may have overdosed or died from some other cause, and that D4vd’s role was in what happened afterward.
  • Soo notes, however, that the autopsy reportedly lists the manner of death as homicide, which makes a pure overdose defense look unlikely.

CSAM Evidence and How It’s Being Handled

The court discussion around child sexual abuse material is significant

  • Prosecutors said D4vd’s iPhone contained a significant amount of child pornography/CSAM.
  • Silverman emphasized that this material cannot simply be handed over on ordinary devices.
  • The court discussed a process where the material would be reviewed on a law-enforcement computer in the courthouse, accessible only to the prosecution and defense.

Why this matters

  • Soo suggests the CSAM issue may lead to additional charges, possibly at the federal level.
  • She notes that the prosecutor repeatedly emphasized the seriousness of the material, signaling that it may become a major part of the broader case.

Family Reactions and Public Backlash

D4vd’s family

  • D4vd’s parents reportedly said they were sad and disappointed by the arrest but still stand behind him and believe he is innocent.
  • His younger brother, Caleb, publicly distanced himself from D4vd and posted that “all pedophiles and rapists should die.”
  • Caleb later explained that he had changed his artist name and was trying to build his own music career, not capitalize on the case.

Celeste’s family

  • Celeste’s family strongly denied rumors that they were being paid off by D4vd or his family.
  • Their attorney said they are devastated and asked for privacy while they grieve.
  • Soo also addresses online criticism of Celeste’s parents, arguing that the public is being too harsh and that poverty, immigration concerns, and police inaction may have affected how the case unfolded when Celeste was missing.

What the Transcript Suggests the Defense May Argue

Possible themes in the defense

  • D4vd did not directly kill Celeste
  • She may have died of other causes, possibly involving drugs
  • The prosecution’s timeline and evidence are being overstated
  • The public narrative is too fast and too biased

Why Soo thinks that defense may struggle

  • The autopsy reportedly classifies the death as homicide.
  • The prosecution appears highly prepared and confident.
  • The evidence volume is enormous, and the state seems ready to present a strong case at the preliminary hearing.

Legal Process Explained in the Episode

Why there is a preliminary hearing

  • Soo gives a detailed explanation of how California state cases can proceed through a criminal complaint and then a preliminary hearing.
  • At the preliminary hearing, the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to move the case to trial.
  • Unlike at trial, hearsay is more broadly allowed when presented through law enforcement testimony.

Why this hearing matters

  • The preliminary hearing may be the first major public look at the prosecution’s case.
  • Soo expects it to last several days and likely feature mostly police officers and forensic experts rather than celebrity witnesses.

Notable Takeaways

  • The prosecution appears extremely organized and prepared.
  • Blair Burke is aggressively pushing discovery issues and sealing arguments, but the judge has not been sympathetic so far.
  • The CSAM evidence is likely to become a major parallel issue in the case.
  • The defense may be leaning toward a strategy centered on causation rather than denying all involvement.
  • Public reaction remains deeply split, especially around D4vd’s family and Celeste’s parents.

Bottom Line

This update portrays a case that is moving from shocking allegations into a more technical legal phase. The prosecution appears to have a large evidence file and strong confidence heading into the preliminary hearing, while the defense is fighting for time, discovery, and control of the narrative. With CSAM evidence now part of the record and the autopsy already public, Soo suggests the upcoming hearing could clarify a lot about what happened — and what the defense can realistically argue.