Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Bombshell Arrest in D4VD Case, Witness Refuses to "Rat:" Record Exec Grilled By Grand Jury
Date: December 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Nancy Grace and an expert panel dissect the latest developments in the murder investigation of Celeste Rivas, a teenage girl whose remains were discovered in the Tesla of rising music artist D4VD (David Anthony Burke). The discussion centers on the bombshell arrest of a female witness who refuses to testify, a record executive’s shocking grand jury testimony, the intricacies of digital forensics, and the mounting pressure from law enforcement as the grand jury considers indicting Burke. Grace, a former prosecutor, draws on her deep legal experience to probe the ethics, legal nuances, and psychological motivations surrounding the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Arrest of a Key Witness (02:54, 04:53)

• A female state witness is refusing to testify against D4VD (David Burke), potentially facing jail time for contempt.
• Nancy explains the legal distinction: unlike defendants, witnesses can be compelled to testify and jailed for refusal.
• The witness has hired the same attorney as the record executive/manager tied to Burke, raising questions of a possible conflict of interest and loyalty within Burke’s “inner circle.”
• The panel debates whether this witness’s refusal is due to fear for personal safety, loyalty, or self-incrimination.

“She’s about to end up in the can in the pokey for her recalcitrants.”
— Nancy Grace (03:41)

2. Record Executive’s Testimony & Legal Obligations (04:53–07:40)

• Record label executive Robert Morgan Roth, who manages D4VD, is grilled by the grand jury.
• Roth was overheard saying he didn’t feel “responsible” to call police after Celeste’s death, prioritizing the tour schedule over reporting the crime.
• Legal analysis reveals that, in California, failure to report certain crimes (even as a non-mandated reporter) is a misdemeanor (Penal Code 152.3).
• The panel is critical of Roth’s callousness, with Nancy and attorney Philip Dubay emphasizing real legal and reputational consequences.

“So forget about the dismembered little girl... Let's just, ‘get on with the tour.’”
— Nancy Grace (06:15)

“If you have observed either a murder, rape, or a lewd act on a minor, you are duty bound... It is a criminal act.”
— Philip Dubay (06:57)

3. Legal Mechanics: Witness Rights, Immunity, and “Taking the Fifth” (08:09–11:19)

• Confusion and clarification around the Fifth Amendment: only witnesses who might self-incriminate can invoke it.
• The legal tactic of “body attachments”—arresting uncooperative witnesses—is explained with real trial anecdotes from the panel.
• The witness in question, though lawyered up, faces either cooperation, a contempt charge, or seeking immunity if culpable.

4. Who Is the Female Witness? — The Inner Circle & Speculation (13:33–15:12)

• Investigators, through search warrants and digital forensics, have narrowed suspects to Burke’s tight inner circle—a small group frequently residing and traveling with him.
• The panel posits that the female witness likely lived with Burke, traveled with him, and possibly helped move Celeste’s body or witnessed the aftermath.
• There is also discussion that Burke received help with disposing of the remains.

“One of those people, I guarantee you, is a female that they're trying to get in court.”
— Rob Dick (13:46)

5. Digital Forensics: Tech Closing the Net (26:45, 28:56–36:28)

a. Cellphone and Car Data

• Digital evidence (phones, car GPS, security camera footage) is crucial. Tesla navigation data and cell tower triangulation place parties at specific locations.
• The show explains how a “tower dump” reveals which phones were present in Burke’s home or along movements matching the time of Celeste’s disappearance.

b. The Tesla Key Card Clue

• A Tesla key card was found in a gutter near Burke’s Hollywood Hills home, not at the impound yard or burial site, implicating an attempt to dispose of evidence nearby.

“Nobody goes anywhere without their phone... No grand juror... is going to buy the fact the phone wasn’t on her.”
— Philip Dubay (36:28)

c. Forensic Expert Testimony

• Scott Eicher (FBI digital forensics expert) elaborates on how digital timelines are built from multiple sources (29:38–31:27).
• Dr. Kendall Crowns (Chief Medical Examiner) explains post-mortem identification methods and clarifies myths about freezing bodies and DNA retrieval (40:14–43:41).

6. The Grand Jury Process (16:53–19:26)

• Grand juries are composed of 16–23 citizens, tasked only with deciding if enough evidence exists to indict, not guilt or innocence.
• Hearsay and indirect evidence are permitted; typically, cases are presented by the lead detective.
• This makes the role of the resisting female witness especially pivotal: her direct knowledge could be enough to tip the balance toward indictment.

7. Why Would the Witness Stay Silent? Psychological & Practical Motives (15:45–16:53, 22:01–23:16, 51:01–53:06)

• Panel’s theories: personal loyalty, fear of reprisal, or direct complicity (e.g., participating in moving the body, living off Burke’s “golden goose” status).
• Dr. Bethany Marshall, psychoanalyst, highlights the lack of maternal or empathetic instinct in the witness: “Who is this female witness that she wouldn't be loyal to another woman?” (15:45)
• The possibility that the witness is “afraid the same thing could happen to her” is raised (29:14, 50:54).

“I think it’s not so much worried about going to jail. I think it’s worried about what she's seen... and the same thing happening to her.”
— Rob Dick (50:50)

8. Tensions Between Police & Medical Examiner (37:49–38:26, 46:43–49:41)

• The LAPD is reportedly furious at media leaks—specific details about the condition of Celeste’s remains (dismemberment, possible freezing) are being circulated.
• Dr. Crowns explains how identification would proceed regardless of condition, from DNA in bones or teeth.
• Nancy and the panel note that leaks could come from various sources—not just medical staff but also police or anyone copying reports.

9. The Ethics of Silence & the Duty to Report (53:06–53:45)

• Dr. Marshall and Nancy Grace fiercely condemn the silence of witnesses and collaborators, reminding listeners that Celeste was only 13 years old.
• The episode concludes with a call for justice and personal responsibility.

“A little girl is dead and you're refusing to testify, really?... You can either get involved, be a part of the solution, or stand back and do nothing and be part of the problem.”
— Nancy Grace (53:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nancy Grace, on the witness’s silence:
  “You can run, but you can’t hide. That female prosecutor knows you—your name, your DOB, your SSN, your address, your mama’s name...” (53:45)

• Rob Dick, theorizing about the witness’s fear:
  “She may have seen exactly what happened and is afraid that could happen to her.” (29:14)

• Dr. Bethany Marshall, on complicity:
  “When witnesses do not want to come forward, it’s usually because they have played a role in the crime—maybe just as a silent witness.” (51:24)

• Nancy Grace’s rebuke to the record executive:
  “You actually said out in the courthouse hall you didn't have any duty to call and report a dead girl in a trunk. All you wanted to do was continue with the tour.” (53:45)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Arrest of key witness and legal discussion: 02:54–12:56
• Digital forensics and evidence breakdown: 26:45–36:55
• Medical examiner insights (freezing, DNA): 38:26–43:41
• Witness psychology and complicity: 51:01–53:06
• Nancy Grace’s closing plea for justice: 53:45

Panel Contributors

• Nancy Grace: Host, former prosecutor
• Philip Dubay: LA criminal defense attorney
• Alexis Tereschuk: Crime Stories investigative reporter
• Rob Dick: Private investigator
• Dr. Kendall Crowns: Chief Medical Examiner, Tarrant County
• Dave Mack: Crime journalist
• Dr. Bethany Marshall: Psychoanalyst
• Scott Eicher: FBI digital forensics expert

Conclusion

Nancy Grace and her panel methodically deconstruct the rapidly evolving D4VD murder case, revealing the complexities of witness intimidation, legal strategy, forensic technology, and personal ethics. As the case heading to the grand jury hinges on the testimony of an intransigent female insider, Grace’s trademark tenacity is matched by her panel’s expertise—underscoring the gravity of complicity, the reach of digital evidence, and the unwavering demand for justice for Celeste Rivas.

If you have any information in this case, contact LAPD at 213-486-6890.