Death Penalty Backed
Celeste Rivas Family Supports Death Penalty for Singer D4vd in Murder Trial
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Key Points
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A judge ordered D4vd to stand trial in July after a five-day preliminary hearing, finding sufficient evidence for the case to proceed.
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Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said outside court on Aug. 31 that he had not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty if Burke is convicted.
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The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office said Burke is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully, while expressing sympathy for those grieving Rivas’ death.
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Prosecutors allege that Burke and Rivas began communicating in 2022, when she was 11, and that he killed her after she threatened to expose their relationship and damage his music career.
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The remains were reportedly discovered in bags inside Burke’s Tesla at a Hollywood impound lot, according to the prosecution’s account summarized by TMZ.
The family of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez publicly backed the death penalty for singer D4vd (David Anthony Burke) if he is convicted in her death, according to The Mirror. In a statement released September 6—before what would have been Rivas' 16th birthday—her parents called capital punishment appropriate while noting that prosecutors and courts will make the final decision. Rivas' remains were found in September 2025 in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, who has pleaded not guilty to murder and related charges.
Burke faces allegations of child sexual abuse and mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors say he killed Rivas in April 2025 after she threatened to expose their relationship and damage his music career. US Magazine reported that Burke's private attorneys have withdrawn, and the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is now handling his defense as he awaits trial.
Prosecutor Has Not Decided on Capital Punishment
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty, The News Tribune reported. A death sentence could be available because prosecutors filed special-circumstance allegations alongside the murder charges. Under California law, first-degree murder alone does not make a defendant death-eligible; prosecutors must prove legally defined special circumstances to pursue capital punishment.
A judge ordered D4vd to stand trial in July after finding sufficient evidence during a five-day preliminary hearing. Even if convicted, prosecutors would need to win a separate capital-sentencing process to secure a death sentence. The victim's family can express its preference, but cannot compel the district attorney to pursue it.
How Prosecutors Allege the Relationship Began
According to Kansas.com, prosecutors allege that Burke and Rivas began communicating in 2022, when she was just 11 years old. The charges include child sexual abuse allegations spanning the years leading up to her death. Prosecutors claim Burke killed her in April 2025 after she threatened to expose their relationship and damage his music career.
Rivas' remains were reportedly discovered in bags inside Burke's Tesla at a Hollywood impound lot. The remains were found in September 2025—months after prosecutors say the killing occurred. All allegations against Burke remain unproven unless proven at trial.
Public Defender's Office Takes on Case
The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office said Burke is entitled to a rigorous defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully, Sacramento Bee reported. The switch to appointed counsel indicates the court determined Burke qualified for state-funded representation after his private attorneys withdrew. This does not establish guilt or weaken the charges.
The public defender's office assumes responsibility for investigating the allegations, preparing the defense, and protecting Burke's constitutional rights. A spokesperson expressed sympathy for those grieving Rivas' death while emphasizing the defendant's right to adequate legal representation during trial.
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