Family of Teen Whose Remains Were Found in D4vd’s Tesla Seeks Death Penalty as Singer Heads to Trial
The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is urging Los Angeles prosecutors to seek the death penalty for D4vd after a judge ordered the singer to stand trial in the killing of the 14-year-old. Celeste’s dismembered remains were found in the front trunk of D4vd’s Tesla at a Los Angeles impound lot in September 2025.
The musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is charged with murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He has pleaded not guilty.
In a statement released through their attorney on what would have been Celeste’s 16th birthday, her parents said the person responsible for her death deserved no mercy.
“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 family said.
An attorney for Burke did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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.
Celeste’s remains were discovered after a vehicle that had been reported abandoned near Burke’s home was towed to Hollywood Tow. According to court documents, investigators found a decomposed head and torso in a black cadaver bag, along with a second bag containing additional dismembered body parts.
Burke, 21, was arrested in April at a house on Marmont Avenue in the Hollywood Hills. At a July evidentiary hearing, prosecutors said his relationship with Celeste began when she was 13 and ended after she threatened to expose him. Text messages shown in court indicated that the teen had become pregnant by Burke and had an abortion.
The case has also raised questions about Burke’s request for publicly funded representation. Last month, he abruptly parted ways with his private legal team and asked to be represented by public defenders. Patrick Steinfeld, an attorney for Celeste’s family, objected.
“The residents of Los Angeles County should be outraged because it will be the taxpayers that are picking up the tab to defend this millionaire,” Steinfeld said. “David Anthony Burke is not indigent.”
California still has the death penalty on the books, but Gov. Gavin Newsom has halted executions during his tenure, and the state has not put anyone to death since 2006. It remains unclear whether the district attorney will pursue capital punishment in this case, but Burke now faces a trial that could determine whether he ever leaves prison.