Los,Angeles,-,Aug,27:,D4vd,,David,Anthony,Burke,At

Celebrity Tied to Gruesome Find: No Charges Yet

February 17, 2026

Teen’s Body Found In Tesla Trunk
A sealed grand jury probe into a teen’s death is now forcing a celebrity suspect’s family to testify—showing how quickly “fame” can collide with the brutal reality of crime and accountability.

Story Snapshot

Texas appellate judges rejected habeas petitions filed by David Anthony Burke’s (D4vd’s) father, mother, and brother, keeping grand jury subpoenas in force.
LAPD and prosecutors are pursuing a murder investigation after 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains were found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke.
Investigators have publicly said a grand jury is active, but no criminal charges have been filed against Burke as of February 2026.
Defense-leaning commentary stresses the lack of publicly disclosed direct evidence and warns against speculation while the grand jury process stays secret.

Texas Court Ruling Tightens the Grand Jury’s Grip

Texas’ First Court of Appeals denied habeas corpus petitions filed by Burke’s close family members who sought to block or delay compelled testimony tied to the Los Angeles County grand jury. With those petitions rejected, the subpoenas remain enforceable, and a short response window was set for next procedural steps. The ruling matters because grand jury investigations often turn on reluctant witnesses, especially when prosecutors are building a timeline and testing conflicting accounts.

The legal fight also underscores a basic reality many Americans recognize: grand juries can place heavy pressure on ordinary citizens, even when the public has not seen the evidence. Supporters of constitutional safeguards may see a legitimate need for courts to enforce lawful subpoenas while still insisting on due process protections for every witness. The available reporting does not establish what each family member knows, only that prosecutors want testimony and judges refused to intervene.

What Investigators Say Happened: The Tesla, the Tow Yard, and the Search

Los Angeles investigators began focusing on Burke after the remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to him at a Hollywood tow yard on September 8, 2025. Reports describe the vehicle as abandoned and flagged after a foul odor. Investigators have examined Burke’s relationship with the victim and executed a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills property associated with him, seizing electronic devices.

The publicly known timeline remains incomplete because the most consequential evidence—digital forensics, witness testimony, and full forensic findings—has not been released. That secrecy is typical for grand jury proceedings, but it fuels online frenzy and political-style pile-ons. For conservative readers tired of media narratives that convict people on vibes, it’s important to keep two facts in view at once: a child is dead, and the suspect has not been charged. Both deserve to matter.

“Murder Investigation” Language Raises the Stakes—But Charges Still Aren’t Filed

One of the most significant developments was law enforcement’s use of “murder investigation” language in court filings, even as public statements at points avoided firm labels early on. LAPD leadership has also indicated “accountability” is coming, while prosecutors continue presenting evidence to the grand jury. Even with that posture, there were still no reported charges against Burke as of February 2026, a gap that highlights how slow high-profile cases can move.

Some reporting indicates toxicology or other forensic work may still be pending, and at least one private investigator has claimed video exists showing the last person driving the Tesla, said to have been provided to LAPD. Those details have not been uniformly confirmed across the major reports cited here, so readers should treat them as claims rather than settled proof. The broader point is straightforward: investigators appear to believe a criminal case is possible, but the public cannot yet evaluate the evidence.

Due Process vs. Public Pressure in a Celebrity-Driven Media Cycle

Attorney commentary highlighted in the research stresses that the public has not been shown direct evidence tying Burke to the killing and cautions against guessing from internet rumors. That perspective aligns with a core constitutional principle: presumption of innocence. It also includes criticism of apparent investigative stumbles, such as questions raised about evidence handling involving a vehicle key card reported found after an initial search. If true, missteps could complicate any future prosecution and invite appeals.

BOMBSHELL: STATE V. D4VD AKA DAVID ANTHONY BURKE https://t.co/pHzX6zJBVt via @YouTube. I’M REALLY LOST

— WillieBoy214 (@WBoy214) February 16, 2026

For a country already exhausted by institutions that seem to play favorites, the test here is whether the system can do two things at once: pursue justice for the victim’s family and keep the process clean, lawful, and transparent when it is permitted to be. Grand juries are designed to operate outside the spotlight, but that design works only when prosecutors and police build cases that stand up in open court. Until that happens, the strongest responsible conclusion is limited: the investigation is active, and the courts are compelling testimony.