All articles tagged with #murder case
Ken Urker, the partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and father of their infant daughter, was found dead at his home in Raceland, Louisiana, on October 1, 2026. He was discovered unresponsive by a family member at 6:15 p.m. CDT. Authorities have confirmed his death but have not yet released the cause, as the investigation remains ongoing.
D4vd's father, Dawud Burke, sold a Houston three-bedroom home for about $229,000 and secured a $138,000 loan on another Houston property as the singer faces a murder case and has been declared indigent, leading to the withdrawal of his high-profile legal team in the Celeste Rivas case. Burke reportedly lives in Hempstead, Texas, and TMZ notes the transactions come amid questions about funding the defense, though a direct link to legal costs has not been established.
A Maltese jury found Yorgen Fenech not guilty of complicity and criminal conspiracy in the 2017 car bombing that killed investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, a verdict coming after years of prosecutions and protests that culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat; several others have already been convicted in connection with the killing, and the case has highlighted concerns about accountability and impunity in Malta.
Celebrity lawyers for US singer D4vd have withdrawn, and the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office will represent him in the murder case involving 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, mutilation of a body and child sexual abuse; prosecutors allege he killed Hernandez after years of alleged abuse and threatened to reveal his relationship with a minor. A pre-trial hearing is set for Oct. 19, and the DA said the lawyer switch could delay proceedings or require additional review, though prosecutors are ready to proceed. The case includes special circumstances that could carry a death penalty if convicted.
Jake Reiner, in his first interview since Rob and Michele Reiner were killed, recalls how sister Romy found their father and discusses the family’s loss and his anger, while declining to comment on his brother Nick, who is charged with the murders. Nick’s pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 15, and a trust tied to the case has been blocked by the trustees under California’s slayer statute.
A Texas judge who presided over Karmelo Anthony’s murder conviction was removed ahead of a key hearing on a possible retrial, after defense attorneys argued his conduct in court—including a TV interview in which he defended courtroom rules and said the jury “got it right”—could affect the fairness of a new-trial bid.
In Los Angeles, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, charged with murdering his parents, is arguing that he should access the roughly $1.63 million set aside for him in a trust created by his parents. A probate trustee disclosed that about $200,000 of the trust has been spent so far, including undisclosed amounts for his previous defense attorney; his attorney previously resigned but could rejoin the case if finances are resolved. A trustee opposes further withdrawals under California's Slayer statute, which bars killers from benefiting from their crimes. Reiner’s team contends he’s entitled to the funds since he hasn’t been convicted, and the judge did not rule on the matter, scheduling another hearing for Oct. 23.
Nick Reiner has already spent about $200,000 on lawyers in a civil probate dispute over access to a $1.5 million trust left by his parents, a matter separate from his murder case for allegedly stabbing them. A judge moved the hearing to Oct. 23 as his attorney seeks to gain control of the trust to fund his defense and basic expenses; the trustee contends funds were properly withheld and that Nick never authorized withdrawal. He remains in custody facing criminal charges that could bring life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.
Nick Reiner is in a civil court clash with the trustee of his parents’ trust over access to roughly $550,000–$1.6 million earmarked for his 30th‑birthday distribution to fund his murder defense. The trustee says the distribution never left the trust and may be withheld under California law depending on the outcome of his criminal case, while Reiner maintains the money should be released to hire top defense lawyers; a Monday LA hearing will address eligibility and why funds were not disbursed as the criminal case proceeds, with mediation possible.
Rolling Stone surveys D4vd (David Burke), a Gen Z pop star whose meteoric rise is shadowed by allegations that he sexually abused 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, stabbed her to death in his Hollywood Hills home, and dismembered her body to cover up the crime. Prosecutors point to a year-long pattern of abuse, a pregnancy and abortion, and a premeditated disposal of evidence in a Tesla; online chats, alter-ego imagery, and other evidence are cited as part of the case. Burke was arrested in April 2025 on charges including first-degree murder and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, facing life in prison or the death penalty if convicted, with a trial date not yet set.
During a five-day preliminary hearing, prosecutors revealed a complex relationship between D4vd’s David Burke and 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, including text messages about pregnancy, an abortion, and threats to expose him, which prosecutors cite as a possible motive. No murder weapon was recovered and the exact manner of the killing remains unclear, leaving room for defense arguments like self-defense or crime-of-passion. Burke’s next court date is Aug. 31 for arraignment, with trial timing uncertain; while prosecutors could seek the death penalty, California’s moratorium makes life without parole the likely outcome if convicted.
During a hearing on whether D4vd will stand trial for first-degree murder, lewd acts with a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains, his lawyers challenged how investigators tested evidence from his Hollywood Hills home, including why chainsaws weren’t tested, even as prosecutors point to blood traces at the home and in his Tesla. Additional details presented include a passport found along Route 154 and cell data linking Burke to the area, with the hearing expected to conclude early next week.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles say rapper d4vd (David Burke) murdered 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in April 2025 after a contentious relationship, describing a brutal sequence in which she was stabbed to death, dismembered, and her remains disposed of in a blue inflatable pool and later in the trunk of his Tesla; they cite text messages showing Celeste’s jealousy and alleged threats to expose information about their relationship, which began when she was a minor. Celeste’s remains were found in September 2025. d4vd has pleaded not guilty to murder with special circumstances and related charges; the defense contends evidence will prove his innocence.
A Montana judge held prosecutors in contempt for public remarks about the Tyler Robinson murder case, ruling that while some statements didn’t violate a narrowly tailored publicity order, others claiming there was ample evidence beyond a reasonable doubt risked prejudicing the jury; the ruling emphasizes restricting pre-trial commentary to protect the fairness of the proceedings.
Nick Reiner, son of Rob and Michelle Reiner, seeks to access a $1.5 million trust set up decades ago to pay for his murder-defense after being charged with his parents’ killings. He filed a petition in LA Superior Court asking the trustee and incoming trustee to release funds—arguing the money belongs to him and isn’t estate assets—so he can hire top defense counsel. A hearing is scheduled for August 17. The dispute underscores questions over mandatory trust distributions and who controls funds used for a defendant’s legal defense.