The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is breaking their silence and calling for justice for the 14-year-old after D4vd was charged with her murder.
"We would like to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and the District Attorney's Office for their hard work. We would also like to thank the people of Lake Elsinore for all their support. Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together," the family wrote in a statement shared on Tuesday (April 21), per ABC 7 Los Angeles.
They continued, "We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste.”
Their statement arrives one day after attending the “Romantic Homicide” singer’s first court appearance, which followed the announcement of a sweeping set of charges tied to what prosecutors described as a "brutal and horrific" killing.
Authorities allege that the 21-year-old singer (born David Anthony Burke) had a long-term sexual relationship with the underage teen and killed her after she threatened to expose it, later dismembering her body and leaving it in his car.
Additional counts include sexual offenses involving a minor and mutilation of human remains. Investigators say they have physical, forensic, and digital evidence supporting that account.
Celeste's remains were found in September 2025 in the trunk of a Tesla registered to the singer, months after she was reportedly last seen on April 23, 2025, when she went to his Hollywood Hills rental home.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a press conference on Monday (April 20), “These charges include the most serious charges that a D.A.'s office can bring -- that is, first-degree murder with special circumstances. The special circumstances being lying in wait, committing this crime for financial gain, or murdering a witness in an investigation."
He further alleged, “This murder was committed for financial gain, as the evidence will show in court. The financial gain was for Mr. Burke to maintain his very lucrative musical career that Celeste was threatening.”
Per the district attorney’s office, the criminal complaint also alleges that the singer “personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime.” This was a detail not mentioned in Hochman’s press conference on Monday.
D4vd pleaded not guilty and remains jailed without bail. He was transferred to the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail on Monday and has reportedly been placed in segregation.
His attorneys said, “The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend David's innocence."
In a separate statement provided by their attorney, his parents added, “The Burkes are not surprised but are terribly disappointed that the District Attorney chose to charge David. Nevertheless, they support and stand by him one hundred percent.”
As previously reported, Rivas’ decomposed and dismembered remains were found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd that had been impounded after the vehicle was reported as abandoned.
At the time that Rivas’ remains were discovered, D4vd was touring in support of his Withered album. He went on to perform on Sept. 9 at The Fillmore in Minneapolis after the story broke about the discovery, but he did not address the matter on stage nor his social media accounts.
His remaining tour dates were eventually cancelled and a previously-announced deluxe edition for Withered did not materialize.
If convicted, D4vd faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
