LOS ANGELES – The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is calling for singer D4vd to face the death penalty in connection to her death.
D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of killing, sexually abusing, and dismembering Hernandez. He is currently awaiting trial in the case.
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Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s family released a statement through their attorney on what would have been her 16th birthday.
“Today we are experiencing so many emotions, praying and singing “Happy Birthday,” reliving unforgettable moments even though she is no longer here. These are feelings that only a father and mother and her siblings can share, with a heavy heart. We will always remember every moment and every good time we spent with Celestita!” the statement reads.
In a separate statement, the family said this case would be a perfect candidate for a death penalty case.
“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. But that’s not in our hands, but rather in God’s, and the California justice system,” the family says in the statement.
D4vd has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. No trial date has been set at this time.
The case
Authorities allege D4vd stabbed Rivas Hernandez to death last April after she threatened to expose sexual abuse that began when she was 13 and end his career just days before his debut album dropped.
“i will end ur career and ur life,” she told him in a text message sent the night before her death.
Prosecutors said the following night D4vd sent an Uber for her and stabbed her when she entered his house. They presented evidence that her phone went permanently silent at that moment.
Rivas Hernandez’s dismembered and decomposing body was found in the trunk of D4vd’s Tesla in the Hollywood Hills in September while he was on tour.
D4vd loses lawyers
D4vd’s high-profile private lawyers parted ways with the singer at an August 31 hearing where he entered a new not guilty plea to the charges.
It is unclear why Blair Berk and her colleagues Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter parted ways with him. They were replaced by a lawyer from the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, sparking outrage from Rivas Hernandez’s family.
“The Rivas Hernandez family was shocked to learn that David Anthony Burke claims to be indigent. It is unfathomable that our justice system qualifies David Anthony Burke as indigent when D4VD has 5+ billion streams with 16 million monthly listeners on a single streaming platform, and controls three corporations (D4VD Entertainment, Skullrose Merchandise and Headspace Publishing). The residents of Los Angeles County should be outraged because it will be the taxpayers that are picking up the tab to defend this millionaire on charges of murder, continuous sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. David Anthony Burke is not indigent. His assets are protected by his companies. Perhaps he would have money if he just asked one of his corporations, or if he had not fraudulently transferred assets to his mother/manager Colleen Burke (who is raking in $75,000 a year from D4VD Ent.) in a blatant attempt to “protect his estate from any civil suit, so the victim’s family wouldn’t be able to... access... that money,” a statement from the family’s attorney said.
