Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas, the parents of the murdered 14-year-old girl Celeste Rivas Hernandez, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against singer D4vd, who is charged with killing their daughter.
According to Rolling Stone, the parents of the deceased are suing the 21-year old rapper (born David Anthony Burke,) for wrongful death along with battery, sexual battery, childhood sexual assault, assault, false imprisonment, human trafficking, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The musician is charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and mutilating a body.
Seeking unspecified damages to be determined by a jury, the lawsuit lists several of the musician’s 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.
Court documents claim that Burke killed Hernandez in his Hollywood Hills home in April of 2025 after she threatened to reveal their relationship.
What would have been the teenager’s 16th birthday, on Monday (9.07,) 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,” stated the family.
D4vd recently parted ways with his defense attorney and is now being represented by a public defender. The next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October 19.
Hernandez’s dismembered body was discovered in the trunk of a car registered to Burke in September 2025.
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Author: Al Dente
Photo: jhyphenn