Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Family Demands the Death Penalty for Singer D4vd as Los Angeles County Prosecutors Weigh a Murder Case Tied to Her 2025 Killing

LOS ANGELES, CA — The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is publicly pressing for singer D4vd to face the death penalty in the killing of the teenager, whose 16th birthday would have been Monday, Sept. 7.

On the eve of that date, the family released a new photo of Celeste and issued a statement describing the punishment they want for David Anthony Burke, the artist’s legal name. They called the death penalty “perfect” for what they described as a person without conscience, while noting that the final decision rests with the California justice system.

The request adds fresh pressure around a case already drawing intense attention because of Burke’s music career and the brutal allegations surrounding Celeste’s death.

Questions now turn to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman

Former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney RJ Dreiling said the family’s demand raises a major question for Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman: whether this is the kind of case in which he would seek capital punishment.

Dreiling said that if Hochman ever were to pursue the death penalty, this case could be the one. He pointed to Hochman’s earlier campaign message that he would be open to capital punishment in extremely egregious cases.

At the same time, California has had a death-penalty moratorium for years, and the state’s last execution took place two decades ago. Dreiling said that moratorium can be lifted by a governor, but for now it remains in place.

ABC7 On Your Side Investigates asked the district attorney’s office for a response to the family’s statement, but the office had not responded.

Burke is represented by a public defender after his lawyers withdrew

Burke is now being represented by a public defender after his previous lawyers withdrew from the murder case last week. He remains behind bars and has been ordered to stand trial on a murder charge in Celeste’s death.

The 21-year-old has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court next month. The shift in his defense team comes as the case moves deeper into the trial process and prosecutors continue preparing their evidence.

Celeste was 14 when prosecutors say Burke, then her boyfriend, killed her in 2025 and left her dismembered body in his car. The allegations have made the case one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings involving a young pop artist in recent memory.

A judge already found enough evidence to send the case to trial

In July, a judge ordered Burke to stand trial after hearing evidence and days of testimony during a preliminary hearing. That proceeding also included graphic material, with photos of Celeste’s decomposing remains shown in court.

Prosecutors allege Burke killed Celeste because he feared she would reveal their sexual relationship and damage his emerging music career. Those allegations remain part of the case prosecutors are expected to prove at trial.

The court’s decision to send the case forward marked a major step for the prosecution and underscored how serious the allegations already are before a jury has heard the case.

The family says Burke should pay privately for his defense

After Burke was assigned a public defender, Celeste’s family challenged the idea that he cannot afford private counsel. In a statement, the family said he is not indigent and instead is hiding money through corporations.

They pointed to his large streaming numbers and monthly listeners as evidence that he has access to significant income. The family said Los Angeles County taxpayers should not be forced to cover the cost of defending what they called a millionaire.

The statement also alleged that Burke fraudulently transferred assets to his mother and manager, Colleen Burke. Those claims were raised by the family, not described as findings of the court.

Why Celeste’s family sees the case through the lens of his music

The family’s statement also connected their anger to Burke’s public image, especially his song “Romantic Homicide.” The track’s music video includes a blood-stained knife and a rose, a visual that has only sharpened the family’s outrage.

Patrick Steinfeld, the attorney for the Rivas Hernandez family, said only someone with a “sick, disturbed mind” would view homicide as romantic. The family’s comments frame the criminal case not just as a legal battle, but as a confrontation with the persona Burke built as a rising musician.

For Celeste’s relatives, the timing of the statement was especially painful because it came just before what would have been her 16th birthday. Their message was both a demand for justice and a public reminder of the teenager at the center of the case.

Chicago's music scene, one story at a time — Chicago Music Guide.