A newly filed prosecution brief in Los Angeles County lays out a disturbing and detailed account of the case against David Anthony Burke, a young artist accused of the murder and dismemberment of a 14 year old girl. The document, submitted ahead of a preliminary hearing, provides a roadmap of what prosecutors say is a calculated sequence of manipulation, violence, and attempted cover up.
A relationship that began in childhood
According to the brief, Burke first met the victim in January 2022 when she was just 11 years old. Prosecutors allege the relationship turned sexual by November 2023, when she was 13 and he was 18.
Despite being reported missing multiple times by her family in early 2024, investigators say Burke continued contact with her. At one point, after her parents confiscated her phone, Burke allegedly paid another student $1,000 to secretly deliver a replacement device so they could continue communicating.
Text messages and other evidence referenced in the filing reportedly include discussions of sex, pregnancy, abortion, and the use of emergency contraception, along with explicit photographs that prosecutors say confirm the nature of the relationship.
The days leading up to her death
Prosecutors point to April 22, 2025 as a turning point. The night before her death, the two allegedly engaged in a lengthy argument over Burke’s involvement with other women. Messages cited in the brief indicate the victim threatened to expose damaging information about their relationship, which prosecutors argue created a motive tied to Burke’s rising music career.
Her death is believed to have occurred on April 23, 2025, the same day her phone activity abruptly stopped.
Allegations of murder and concealment
The prosecution alleges that shortly after arriving at Burke’s Hollywood Hills home, the victim was stabbed multiple times and left to die. The filing emphasizes that no attempt was made to seek medical help or contact authorities.
What follows, according to investigators, was a series of deliberate actions to conceal the crime. Prosecutors say Burke drove to Santa Barbara County within hours, attempting to dispose of evidence, while simultaneously sending messages to the victim’s phone to create the appearance she was still alive.
Dismemberment and forensic evidence
The most graphic portion of the brief outlines what prosecutors describe as a methodical dismemberment. They allege Burke used tools including a chainsaw and placed the body in an inflatable pool to contain blood before cutting off limbs.
Fragments of blue plastic recovered from the remains were later matched by forensic experts to that same inflatable pool, according to the filing. DNA evidence collected from Burke’s garage also reportedly matched the victim.
Prosecutors further allege that the victim’s fingers were removed in an attempt to prevent identification due to a tattoo linking her to Burke.
Her remains were ultimately discovered on September 8, 2025 in the front trunk of a Tesla Model X connected to Burke. The body had been placed in bags and left to decompose for an extended period.
Purchases and planning
The filing details a series of purchases prosecutors say support premeditation and concealment efforts. These include body bags, heavy duty bags, a shovel, chainsaws, and what is described as a “burn cage,” allegedly ordered under a fake name.
Investigators also cite Uber records showing Burke arranged transportation for the victim to his home the night she is believed to have been killed.
A calculated timeline
Surveillance footage, digital records, and phone data are expected to play a central role in the case. Prosecutors say video captures Burke driving the Tesla shortly before leaving for a concert tour, while text messages trace his movements and actions in the critical hours surrounding the alleged murder.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Burke continued with professional obligations, including a radio interview tied to an album release shortly after the victim’s death.
What comes next
The prosecution states it is prepared to move forward with the preliminary hearing, where it will present evidence including forensic findings, digital communications, purchase records, and witness testimony.
At this stage, the allegations outlined in the brief represent the prosecution’s version of events and have not yet been tested in court. The upcoming hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
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