Celeste Rivas’ family supports the death penalty for singer D4vd if he is convicted of her murder.
The 21-year-old singer, real name David Burke, will stand trial for the murder of the 14-year-old girl in April 2025.
Her family said this in a statement to the newspaper New York Post: ‘If the death penalty were activated, it would be perfect for these kinds of people, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside, and without conscience, who have only caused pain to our daughter, our family and the world that supports our precious daughter.’
“But that is not in our hands, but rather in God’s and the California justice system.”
The decision on whether to pursue the death penalty will be made by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Rivas’ dismembered remains were discovered almost exactly a year ago.
Celeste Rivas’ family supports the death penalty for singer D4vd if he is convicted of her murder; He is pictured in August 2024
The 21-year-old singer, real name David Burke, will stand trial for the murder of the 14-year-old girl in April 2025 (photo)
D4vd has pleaded not guilty to Rivas’ murder, as well as charges of child sexual abuse and mutilation in connection with her death.
The music artist’s lawyers withdrew from his case last week.
Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter told the judge overseeing the trial that they could no longer represent the singer.
“This morning, the court granted our request to withdraw as counsel and appointed the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office after determining that David was eligible for appointment as counsel,” they said in a statement to TMZ.
“We continue to support David and his defense against these serious allegations,” the attorneys continued.
“We are grateful that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has assumed representation and that David has a highly skilled and dedicated team of attorneys and investigators behind him.”
In a statement to the LA Times, LA County Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel said: “We recognize the loss of life underlying the charges and extend our condolences to those who are grieving.
“At the same time, David Burke is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and examines the evidence carefully. We are committed to providing him with that defense.”
Rivas’ dismembered remains were discovered almost exactly a year ago
The decision whether or not to carry out the death penalty will be made by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman; D4vd pictured in April 2025, days before Riivas’ brutal murder
TMZ reported earlier this year that the investigator had difficulty determining Rivas’ exact cause of death due to her body’s late stages of decomposition.
TMZ reported earlier this year that the investigator had difficulty determining Rivas’ cause of death due to her body’s late stage of decomposition.
Police say the vehicle in which her remains were found at a tow lot was registered to D4vd’s Texas address.
The star was identified as a suspect in the murder in November 2025 and was arrested in April 2026.
Based on testimony from her friends and family, it is believed that Rivas was in a romantic relationship with him at the time of her death.
The victim’s family said she was last seen in the spring of 2024, when she left her Lake Elsinore home at the age of 13. They noted that it wasn’t the first time she had run away.
Law enforcement officers discovered her body in the trunk of the impounded vehicle after reports of an offensive odor.
Prosecutors alleged in July 2026 press release that the musician killed Rivas on April 23, 2025, “because he feared their illicit sexual relationship would ruin his ambitious career.”
