The father of singer D4vd sold a Texas property for $229,000 and took out a $138,000 loan on another home months before his son’s high-profile defence team withdrew from his murder case, according to real estate records reported by TMZ.
The transactions involving Dawud Burke have come under scrutiny after D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was found eligible for representation by the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office.
Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty on Monday to murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, as well as charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
His former lawyers – Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter – told the court they could no longer represent him. A judge approved their withdrawal and appointed Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel.
TMZ reported that Dawud Burke sold a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Houston, measuring 1,819 square feet, in early July. The property changed hands for $229,000.
Records also reportedly show that he took out a $138,000 loan in late April against another Houston property, described as a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house of about 1,260 square feet.
Dawud Burke is understood to live in a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Hempstead, Texas. The 4,426-square-foot property has been estimated at about $850,000.
The financial details emerged after the public defender’s office confirmed that a review of Burke’s finances had found him eligible for publicly funded legal representation. The office said it could not disclose his financial information.
That finding has raised questions because prosecutors previously presented evidence that Burke had earned at least $10 million from his music career between 2023 and 2025. The Los Angeles Times reported that he was signed to a multimillion-dollar recording deal at the time of Celeste’s death.
The reason for the change in representation has not been disclosed. A transcript of a private hearing held to discuss the matter was sealed, while Burke’s former lawyers said only that they continued to support him and his defence.
His new lawyer said Burke was entitled to a defence that took his circumstances seriously and carefully examined the evidence. Burke’s next court hearing is scheduled for October 19, and no trial date has been set.
Prosecutors allege that Burke killed Celeste at his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, after fearing that their alleged sexual relationship would damage his fledgling career. Her decomposed and dismembered remains were found months later in the front boot of a Tesla registered to him.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said a judge had ordered Burke to stand trial after a five-day preliminary hearing in July. Prosecutors allege that he stabbed Celeste, then used a chainsaw to dismember her remains in an inflatable pool in the garage.
The district attorney’s office has said Burke could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted, although a decision on whether to seek capital punishment has not been made.
Burke is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
