Rivas Hernandez Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against D4vd

LOS ANGELES, CA — The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year- old girl allegedly killed by singer D4vd last year, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the singer and others, alleging they bear responsibility for her death and sexual abuse, according to published reports Tuesday.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court by the girl's parents, Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas, and names D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, along with his companies, managers, mother and a live-in security guard as defendants, according to TMZ and the Los Angeles Times.

The suit alleges Burke began a sexual relationship with Celeste in November 2023, when she was 13, and that the relationship continued until her death in April 2025.

The complaint alleges Burke killed Celeste on April 23, 2025, at his Hollywood Hills home after arranging for her to be driven there from Riverside County. The suit further alleges he dismembered her body in an effort to conceal evidence of the alleged abuse.

The girl's dismembered and decomposing remains were found in the trunk of Burke's Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025. According to a prosecution court filing, the vehicle had been towed three days earlier while parked about 400 feet from Burke's Hollywood Hills home.

The lawsuit also alleges others around Burke enabled him to isolate Celeste and facilitated his travel, housing and security. It seeks damages for wrongful death, sexual abuse of a minor and negligence.

Burke, 21, has pleaded not guilty to murder and other criminal charges stemming from the girl's death. He is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Oct. 19 for a status conference.

Burke was charged April 20 with capital murder in the 2025 death, along with the special circumstance allegations of lying in wait, murder for financial gain and killing a witness in a criminal investigation.

He remains jailed without bail.

Burke is also charged with one count each of continuous sexual abuse of a child under age 14 and mutilation of human remains.

Prosecutors contend the singer killed the underage girl to prevent her from damaging his burgeoning music career by going public about their lengthy sexual relationship.

The lawsuit was filed on what would have been Celeste's 16th birthday, when her family also called for Burke to face the death penalty if he is convicted.

"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 Rivas Hernandez family said in a statement.

"But that's not in our hands, but rather in God's, and the California justice system," the family added.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said that he has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty for Burke.

California still has the death penalty on the books, but the last time a condemned prisoner was executed in the state was January 2006. Gov. Gavin Newsom placed an official moratorium on executions in 2019.

Burke is being represented by a public defender after his three previous attorneys withdrew from the case last week.

City News Service