The guardians of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was 14 when she was killed, have brought a civil wrongful death suit against the artist known as D4vd.
The plaintiffs, Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas, file the civil action against the musician whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, a figure facing homicide charges and scheduled to face a trial in the coming year.
As reported by Rolling Stone, the couple targets Burke, now 21, with claims of wrongful death along with counts of battery, sexual battery, childhood sexual abuse, assault, false imprisonment, human trafficking, and emotional distress caused intentionally. They seek damages that a jury would determine to be appropriate, with the amount to be set in court.
Joining Burke in the lawsuit are several of his business entities and his management team, along with his mother and his personal financial administrator, Colleen Burke, and a live-in security guard, who are named as co-defendants. The filing accuses these parties of negligence in failing to shield a minor from harm.
The civil complaint mirrors many of the charges outlined by prosecutors in the ongoing criminal case against Burke, who has entered a plea of not guilty.
The remains of Hernandez were discovered in the trunk of a car registered to Burke in September 2025.
The documents allege that Burke carried out the killing at his home in the Hollywood Hills in April 2025 after Hernandez threatened to disclose their relationship.
On Monday, which would have been the teen’s 16th birthday, the family pressed for Burke to receive the death penalty should he be found guilty.
“If the death penalty were to be imposed, it would be fitting for a person like this—lacking empathy, devoid of conscience, whose actions brought unconscionable pain to our daughter, our family, and the wider community that cherishes our daughter,” the relatives stated.
The musician faces charges of first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and the mutilation of a body.
He has recently parted ways with his prior defense attorney and is now represented by a public defender. The next pre-trial conference is set for 19 October.
