The parents of the murdered 14-year-old girl Celeste Rivas Hernandez have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against singer D4vd.
Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas have filed a civil lawsuit against the singer, real name David Anthony Burke, who is charged with killing their daughter and is due to stand trial next year.
According to Rolling Stone, they are suing Burke, 21, for wrongful death as well as battery, sexual battery, childhood sexual assault, assault, false imprisonment, human trafficking, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. They are seeking unspecified damages to be determined by a jury.
In addition to Burke, the lawsuit lists several of his companies and managers, his mother and personal financial manager, Colleen Burke, and a live-in security guard as co-defendants, accusing them of negligence in failing to protect a minor.
The civil lawsuit contains similar claims to those made by prosecutors in the ongoing criminal case against the singer, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Hernandez’s dismembered body was discovered in the trunk of a car registered to Burke in September 2025.
In the documents, they claim that Burke killed Hernandez in his Hollywood Hills home in April 2025 after she threatened to reveal their relationship.
On Monday, what would have been the teenager’s 16th birthday, the family demanded that Burke receive the death penalty if found guilty.
“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,” they said.
The musician is charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and mutilating a body.
He recently parted ways with his defence attorney and is now being represented by a public defender. The next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 19 October.
