Family of killed teen call for death penalty in D4vd trial

For 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, her family is pushing for the death penalty if singer D4vd—real name David Anthony Burke—is convicted of murder. The body was found dismembered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke’s address in September 2025.

California has a temporary ban on the death penalty, yet the parents stated that an execution would be “perfect” if the court found the artist guilty of killing Celeste. They have also sued Burke in civil court for burial and funeral expenses.

The civil suit lists several of Burke’s companies, his mother, and a live‑in security guard, alleging they enabled and isolated Celeste. The parents say that after the teenage girl threatened to expose their relationship, Burke allegedly killed her at his Hollywood Hills home, after sending a threatening message.

Investigators say the couple began a relationship when the girl was 13 and exchanged almost 10,000 texts over 16 months, including sexual content. The parents argue that Burke wielded an adult authority over the minor and abused that power.

A judge found probable cause for the murder charge and the district attorney is weighing a return to capital punishment. Burke has pleaded not guilty and is represented by a public defender, with trial set for 19 October. If the death penalty is triggered, the family insists it would send a powerful message against a “human being devoid of conscience.”

The lawsuit also names managers from his company Mogul Vision and finance staff, and speaks of “enabling” behavior that allowed Burke to commit the crime. The firm denies having known about the relationship.

With the criminal trial in the balance, the family’s demand for a death sentence remains a chilling element of the case, illustrating the intense grief of victims’ families in high‑profile homicide cases.