Family of slain teen call for death penalty in D4vd trial
The family of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez is calling for the death penalty for singer D4vd, who is accused of her murder. The family has also filed a civil lawsuit alleging wrongful death, false imprisonment, and sexual assault.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing legal debates regarding the death penalty in California and addresses serious allegations of exploitation and violence involving a public figure.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Celeste Rivas Hernandez's remains were found in September 2025 in a Tesla registered to D4vd's address
The family of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez has lobbied for the death penalty if D4vd is found guilty murdering their daughter.
D4vd, who was born David Anthony Burke, is charged with killing the teenager, whose dismembered body was found in the trunk of a Tesla car registered to his address on 8 September 2025. Burke has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The death penalty is under a temporary ban in California, where Burke is due to stand trial, but in a statement Hernandez' family said execution "would be perfect" if the singer was convicted of murder.
In a related development, Hernandez's parents filed a civil lawsuit against Burke on Friday, seeking monetary damages including burial and funeral expenses.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in