D4vd Sued by Celeste Rivas Hernandez's Family as Parents Call Death Penalty 'Perfect'

The parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez have filed a sweeping civil wrongful death lawsuit against alt-pop singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, exactly one year after the tragic discovery of the 14-year-old's dismembered remains.

Filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas, the complaint expands legal accountability beyond the ongoing criminal case by naming the 21-year-old musician, his mother, management personnel, and a live-in security guard.

Burke currently faces felony charges including first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, and unlawful mutilation of human remains, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office says the charges are allegations and that Burke is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.

The lawsuit comes as Celeste's family publicly calls for Burke to face the death penalty if he is convicted. As prosecutors weigh whether to pursue capital punishment, the civil complaint alleges that members of the singer's inner circle actively facilitated his access to the teenager and helped conceal evidence following her death.

Lawsuit Accuses D4vd's Inner Circle of Enabling Abuse

The wrongful death lawsuit makes allegations that overlap with the criminal case while also seeking to hold other defendants civilly liable.

The complaint names Burke, Mogul Vision, his mother Colleen Burke, security guard Sheldon Jacques and other people and entities associated with the singer. It alleges that people around Burke knew or should have known about his relationship with Celeste and failed to take reasonable steps to protect her.

The lawsuit also alleges that people close to Burke helped 'to isolate the decedent' and 'facilitated his travel, housing and security'.

Another section of the complaint alleges that defendants participated in a 'coordinated effort to hide evidence' relating to the alleged sexual abuse and killing, including the concealment and dismemberment of Celeste's remains.

Those claims are allegations contained in a civil complaint and have not been established as facts by a court. Burke has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges.

The family is seeking damages including funeral and burial expenses and losses relating to Celeste's 'love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, affection, society' and 'moral support', according to the lawsuit.

What Prosecutors Allege Happened to Celeste

Authorities found Celeste's decomposed and dismembered remains on 8 September 2025, in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard.

Prosecutors allege that Burke invited Celeste to his Hollywood Hills home on 23 April 2025, and that she was never seen again. The prosecution alleges that he fatally stabbed her before dismembering her body and placing the remains in the vehicle.

According to the lawsuit and evidence described by prosecutors, Burke and Celeste allegedly began a sexual relationship in November 2023, when she was 13.

The civil complaint alleges that the relationship continued until 2025 and that the pair exchanged thousands of messages. It also alleges that Burke took sexual photographs of Celeste and that their sexual relationship continued after a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy allegedly told him she was underage.

The lawsuit further alleges that Celeste sent Burke a message threatening to expose him and his career shortly before her death.

Prosecutors allege that Burke subsequently stabbed her and dismembered her body. The DA's office says investigators found evidence in Burke's garage and that prosecutors presented evidence concerning a shovel, chainsaws, a body bag and an inflatable pool during the preliminary proceedings.

Family Say Death Penalty Would Be 'Perfect'

Celeste's family has publicly called for Burke to receive the death penalty if he is convicted.

In a statement issued through their attorneys, the family said: '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.'

They added: 'But that's not in our hands, but rather in God's, and the California justice system.' The comments came as Celeste approached her 16th birthday. Hochman has said he has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

If Burke is convicted as charged and prosecutors pursue capital punishment, he could face either a death sentence or life in state prison without the possibility of parole.

D4vd's Defence Team Has Changed

The civil lawsuit was filed shortly after Burke's defence team changed. On 31 August, Burke replaced his private attorneys, including Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, with lawyers from the Los Angeles County public defender's office.

Burke has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered the criminal case to proceed to trial in July after finding sufficient evidence to send Burke to trial. The DA's office said at the time that the prosecution had presented evidence concerning the alleged killing and dismemberment.

The civil allegations will now proceed separately from the criminal case, with the claims against Burke and the other defendants still to be determined.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet announced whether his office will formally seek the death penalty. Meanwhile, Burke has transitioned his criminal defence representation to the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office as he awaits further pre-trial hearings.