Celeste Rivas Hernandez Family Sues Singer D4vd, Family, and Associates
The family of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court targeting singer David Anthony Burke, professionally known as D4vd, along with his mother, business entities, and security guard, following the teenager’s killing and the discovery of her remains in the front trunk of an abandoned Tesla in 2025.
Civil Complaint Details and Financial Scrutiny
According to attorney Patrick Seinfeld, who shared a copy of the complaint with NBC Los Angeles, the civil process is now moving forward in tandem with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The lawsuit names the singer, his mother and manager Colleen Burke, various business entities, and a security guard as defendants. The family’s legal representation asserts that the civil action aims to hold the artist and his enablers fully accountable. Alongside the civil filing, public defenders were recently assigned to represent Burke in criminal proceedings after his previous private counsel withdrew from the high-profile case.
Celeste’s family has publicly questioned Burke’s declared indigency in the criminal matter, pointing out his substantial streaming numbers and monthly listeners on major digital music platforms. In a public statement reported by ABC7, the family argued that taxpayers should not shoulder the financial burden of his criminal defense while corporate assets and funds are allegedly managed through entities associated with his relatives.
Criminal Charges, Special Circumstances, and Potential Penalties
Burke faces severe criminal charges stemming from the investigation into the Lake Elsinore teenager’s death. According to court records detailed by NBC Los Angeles, prosecutors charged the 21-year-old performer with first-degree murder, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and one count of unlawful mutilation of human remains. A Los Angeles judge ordered Burke to stand trial following a preliminary hearing in July where prosecutors presented extensive evidence, including mobile phone content and text messages.
The criminal complaint includes special circumstances allegations that could increase sentencing penalties, specifically the commission of a crime for financial gain. Prosecutors stated that this allegation connects to the singer’s music career, which was allegedly threatened by his relationship with the underage girl. Investigators identified Celeste as a key witness in that ongoing inquiry, establishing the statutory basis for a witness-murder special circumstance. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman noted that potential penalties upon conviction include life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, though a final decision on seeking capital punishment will occur at a later date. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in 2019 instituting a moratorium on executions in California, where the last execution took place in 2006.
Investigation Timeline and Legal Next Steps
The tragic sequence of events began when Celeste was reported missing in the spring of 2025. Her decomposed body was located on September 8, 2025, inside the front trunk of a Tesla impounded at a Los Angeles tow yard after being abandoned in the Hollywood Hills, where neighbors reported it parked for over a month. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office determined the cause of death to be multiple penetrating injuries caused by an object or objects.
Burke entered a not guilty plea on August 31. The next procedural milestone in the criminal case is scheduled for a status conference on October 19, with a trial anticipated to begin within 90 days of that date.
As the legal system processes both the state murder prosecution and the newly initiated civil claims, the path toward formal adjudication remains anchored by upcoming court dates in downtown Los Angeles.