D4vd murder charge: Family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez speaks out after daughter found dead in Tesla

The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found in a Tesla linked to musician D4vd, have released an emotional statement to the public.

It came one day after the musician, D4vd, was formally charged with first-degree murder in relation to the teenager’s death.

The 21-year-old artist, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested on April 16 over the death of the 14-year-old.

In the statement, the family thanked the police and their community for their support, and said they wanted justice for the teenager.

“We would like to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for their hard work,” they wrote, according to NBC.

“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 was movie night and we spent wonderful times together. 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.”

Celeste’s parents were present at the hearing on Monday, and they were expected to speak to media afterwards; however, the family lawyer Patrick Steinfeld said the arrival of a bomb threat cancelled the event.

Mr Steinfeld said there were safety concerns for the “very private” family.

“They were intimidated by the onslaught of reporters and the aggressiveness of some camera people,” he said in a statement.

“They were devastated after hearing the gruesome details that came out in David Burke’s arraignment.”

Mr Steinfeld described the family as “exhausted, emotionally drained, and needing time to compose themselves” after Burke’s court appearance.

Celeste’s remains were found in September last year inside the front trunk of a Tesla that had been impounded at a Hollywood tow yard. Police said the vehicle was registered to an address linked to Burke in Texas.

The musician is accused of killing the teenager for financial gain and using a “sharp instrument” in the attack.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J Hochman said digital and forensic evidence indicate the alleged motive was to protect Burke’s music career from being exposed due to his relationship with an underage girl.

Authorities claim Celeste was also a witness to a separate crime and “was intentionally killed because of that fact”.

On Monday, during Burke’s first court appearance, his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

His defence attorney pushed for preliminary hearings to begin this week.

“We believe actual evident will show that Mr Burke did not murder Celeste nor was the cause of her death. We would like to have the evidence see the light of day,” Blair Berk said, according to the Daily Mail.

Prosecutors have also charged Burke with continuous lewd acts with a child under 14 and mutilation of human remains.

Officials say the special circumstances attached to the murder charge include “lying in wait, committing this crime for financial gain or murdering a witness in an investigation.”

If convicted, Burke could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

His next court date is set for April 23.

Prosecutors allege the teen visited Burke’s home on April 23, 2025, “at his invitation” and was never seen again.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Hochman said a final decision on pursuing capital punishment will be made later.

“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 music career, on that particular night,” Mr Hochman said.

“In this particular case, as the evidence will come out in court, the witness to the investigation was Celeste, and the investigation was into the lewd and lascivious sexual acts committed by Mr Burke... with Celeste when she was under [sic] 14 years old.”

At the same briefing, Rivas’s family said their grief was “incalculable”.

Burke’s family has stood by him, with spokesperson Kent Schaffer saying: “The Burkes are not surprised but are terribly disappointed that the District Attorney chose to charge David. Nevertheless, they support and stand by him 100 percent.”

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