The parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez are calling for singer D4vd to face the death penalty if he is convicted of killing their daughter.
In a statement sent to Urban Hollywood 411 through attorney Patrick Steinfeld on Monday, Sept. 7, the teenager’s family said the death penalty would be the “perfect” punishment for the musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke.
“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 statement read.
Rivas Hernandez was 14 when her dismembered and decomposed remains were found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025.
Related: D4vd’s Finances Questioned by Celeste’s Family After He Gets Public Defender
In a separate statement on Monday, her family marked what would have been Rivas Hernandez’s 16th birthday and released a new photo of the teenager.
“Today we are experiencing so many emotions, praying and singing ‘Happy Birthday,’ reliving unforgettable moments even though she is no longer here,” the family said. “These are feelings that only a father and mother and her siblings can share, with a heavy heart.”
They added, “We will always remember every moment and every good time we spent with Celestita!”
Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026, following a months-long LAPD investigation. The singer was charged with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14, and mutilating a body.
The murder charge includes special-circumstance allegations that could make the alt-pop singer eligible for the death penalty if convicted as charged, although California has a moratorium on executions.
Prosecutors alleged Burke killed Rivas Hernandez to protect his “very lucrative” music career after she threatened to go public about their alleged sexual relationship.
The 21-year-old singer pleaded not guilty to all charges. During a five-day preliminary hearing in July, an LAPD homicide detective testified that Rivas Hernandez had allegedly gotten pregnant at least once and had an abortion.
After combing through text messages between Burke and Rivas Hernandez from January 2024, the detective said the teenager told Burke neither one of them was ready to raise a child. Rivas Hernandez was 13 years old at the time.
At the conclusion of the hearing, a Los Angeles judge ruled there was enough evidence for Burke to stand trial. The TikTok star remains jailed without bail.
The singer’s private attorneys withdrew from the case during a status conference on Aug. 31, and a public defender was appointed to represent him.
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