- D4vd accused of sexually abusing and killing Celeste, whose remains were found in his car
- Family pursuing wrongful-death lawsuit, alleging D4vd’s inner circle enabled the abuse
- D4vd’s high-profile lawyers withdrew, and he is now represented by a public defender
Singer D4vd is facing a life or death legal battle as the family of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez calls for the death penalty if he is convicted of killing their daughter.
According to NBCNews, Celeste’s parents made the demand in a statement released through their attorney on what would have been the teenager’s 16th birthday.
“If the death penalty were activated, it would be perfect for this kind of human being, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside, and without conscience, who only caused pain to our daughter, our family, and the world that supports our precious daughter,” the teen’s parents said in a statement Monday via their attorney.
D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors allege Burke sexually abused Celeste after beginning a relationship with her when she was just 13 and he was 18. They also allege that he killed her after she threatened to expose their relationship.
As BOSSIP previously reported, the case became particularly horrifying when Celeste’s decomposed remains were discovered inside the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla at a Los Angeles impound lot in September 2025. Prosecutors have presented evidence alleging that her body had been dismembered. And because apparently this case needed another sick and twisted layer, investigators have testified that Burke purchased items including chainsaws and cadaver bags online after Celeste disappeared. Prosecutors contend those purchases were connected to efforts to dispose of her remains.
The family is now also pursuing a wrongful-death lawsuit against Burke and several people connected to him, alleging that members of his inner circle knew about his inappropriate relationship with Celeste and enabled or failed to stop the abuse.
In a separate statement, the family said they were “experiencing so many emotions” and “reliving unforgettable moments even though she is no longer here.”
“These are feelings that only a father and mother and her siblings can share, with a heavy heart. We will always remember every moment and every good time we spent with Celestita,” the family said.
To make matters worse, Burke’s high-profile defense attorneys withdrew from the case in August, and he is now represented by a Los Angeles County public defender after a judge determined he qualified for court-appointed counsel. That development has raised eyebrows because prosecutors have previously said Burke earned millions of dollars during his rapid rise to fame. Moreover, being repped by a public defender in a murder case is…not ideal to say the least. Hopefully, that increases the chance that Celeste’s family will actually receive justice.
