D4VD Grand Jury Refused to Indict — Prosecution's Problem

D4VD Grand Jury Refused to Indict — Prosecution's Problem

Author: Real Story Media April 20, 2026 Duration: 15:18

David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4VD, is being held without bail at a Los Angeles County detention facility following his arrest on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Major Crimes Division, led by prosecutor Beth Silverman, is reviewing the case for filing consideration. No grand jury indictment was returned despite months of testimony. No criminal complaint was filed prior to the arrest.

The defense issued a statement following the arrest asserting that Burke "did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death," while emphasizing the absence of a formal indictment or complaint. Legal analysts note the statement's specific denial of causation — rather than a blanket denial of involvement — signals a defense posture that may concede proximity to the decedent while contesting the manner and cause of death.

Grand jury proceedings included testimony from multiple witnesses. Burke's manager reportedly testified over three days. A female witness was allegedly compelled to appear under threat of arrest after going into hiding. Another associate, Neo Langston, was reportedly located in Montana and required to return. The behavioral pattern among witnesses — including flight, concealment, and reluctance to cooperate — is a significant factor in how prosecutors assess the reliability and completeness of the evidentiary record.

The procedural question facing the DA is whether the evidence supports formal charges in the absence of a grand jury indictment. California law permits the filing of a criminal complaint based on probable cause independent of grand jury action. Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer provides analysis on the prosecution's options, the defense strategy, and the procedural implications of the case's current posture.

Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/

Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/

Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod

X Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePod

This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

#D4VD #CelesteRivasHernandez #DavidAnthonyBurke #DAFiling #GrandJury #TrueCrimeToday #LAProsecutor #CaliforniaLaw #TrueCrime #JusticeForCeleste


From the team at Real Story Media, True Crime Today | Daily True Crime News & Interviews cuts through the noise to deliver a clear, daily account of the stories gripping the true crime community. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a focused dive into the latest developments, ongoing investigations, and the pressing legal questions that emerge each day. We move beyond the surface, offering thoughtful commentary that considers the real-world impact of these cases on families, communities, and the justice system itself. The daily format of this podcast ensures you're informed with a current, sober perspective, while exclusive interviews with journalists, experts, and sometimes those close to the cases provide depth you won't find elsewhere. If you're looking for a reliable source that respects the gravity of the subject while satisfying a need to understand the ever-evolving narrative of crime and justice, this is the essential listen. Tune in for a straightforward, daily update that prioritizes factual reporting and meaningful context over sensationalism.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

True Crime Today | Daily True Crime News & Interviews
Podcast Episodes
D4VD Arrested: Why LAPD Moved Without an Indictment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
The grand jury sat on this case for five months and never returned an indictment. LAPD arrested D4VD anyway. That decision — and what it signals about where this investigation stands — is the most important detail in the…
Anna Kepner: Federal Evidence, Sentencing, and What Comes Next [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:00
The federal prosecution of Anna Kepner’s sixteen-year-old stepbrother rests on a confined evidentiary record that includes ship surveillance footage, physical evidence of alleged concealment, and a medical examiner’s det…
Anna Kepner Indictment: The Federal Defense Waiver Examined [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:23
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida has indicted a sixteen-year-old on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse in the death of eighteen-year-old Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Hor…
Larry Millete: The Family That Wouldn't Stop Searching [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:10
Maya Millete's family didn't wait for the system to work. They built their own search operation, organized volunteer parties across Southern California, took the case to national media, and pushed for answers every singl…
Bateman Is Gone — But Is the FLDS Machine Still Running? | Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:46
The prosecution of Samuel Bateman and his eleven co-defendants is the most thorough federal takedown of a cult-based child trafficking operation in recent memory. Every defendant convicted. Sentences ranging from time se…
IBLP’s Survivors Spent Decades Rebuilding From the Ground Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:41
Freedom felt like drowning. That's what former IBLP members describe when they talk about the first months and years after leaving. Not relief. Disorientation. The collapse of the only framework they'd ever had for under…
Experts Explain the Psychological Wreckage of Bateman's Cult | Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:03
Eight children were removed from Samuel Bateman's compound and placed in foster care. During forensic interviews, none of them disclosed abuse. Their journals — seized by the FBI — were filled with detailed accounts of w…