Celeste Rivas’ Family Calls For Death Penalty Against Singer D4VD

D4VD faces a family’s call for capital punishment as the calendar approaches what would’ve been Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s sixteenth birthday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney is still weighing whether to pursue the death penalty or life imprisonment for the singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, in connection with the 14-year-old’s brutal killing last year.

Celeste’s parents released a statement saying that if the death penalty were imposed, it would be perfect for someone devoid of feelings.

“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. But that’s not in our hands, but rather in God’s and the California justice system.”

According to the NY Post, the statement came on the eve of Celeste’s sixteenth birthday and one year after her decomposed remains were discovered in the trunk of D4VD’s Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard.

Prosecutors allege that D4VD stabbed Celeste to death on April 23, 2025, after she threatened to expose their relationship and destroy his lucrative music career because she was underage.

The medical examiner testified that she suffered two penetrating wounds to her torso, including a chest wound that could’ve been fatal by allowing air into the chest cavity and a liver wound that could’ve caused life-threatening internal bleeding.

Celeste had less than five liters of blood in her body, and prosecutors noted she never made it to her 15th birthday.

D4VD allegedly ordered a shovel from Home Depot, two chainsaws from Amazon, a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, and a blue inflatable pool using a fake name.

Investigators testified he dismembered Celeste with a chainsaw in the pool, and pieces of it were found on her remains during the autopsy.

Blood matching her DNA profile was discovered in his garage.

He’s charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains, with special circumstances including murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and murder by lying in wait.

D4VD pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, and his attorneys maintained his innocence, claiming the evidence would show he didn’t murder Celeste and wasn’t the cause of her death.

A judge ordered him to stand trial on July 27, 2026, after hearing five days of testimony during the preliminary hearing.

Last month, D4VD dropped his high-profile legal team and is now represented by public defender Walid Kandeel.

His family allegedly sold property and took out loans to fund his defense, though the victim’s family attorney is challenging whether he truly qualifies for public representation given his substantial earnings from his music career.

The family claims he’s concealing assets through companies he owns and by transferring money to his mother.