The legal fallout surrounding the tragic death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has expanded into civil court as her family takes direct legal action.
The victim’s parents, Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas, filed a comprehensive wrongful death lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The Defendants: Alongside the musician D4vd (legal name David Anthony Burke), the lawsuit targets several individuals and entities, including his mother, his management team, his live-in security guard, and affiliated business entities.
Severe Allegations: The legal complaint asserts multiple claims including wrongful death, childhood sexual assault, sexual battery, human trafficking, false imprisonment, and negligence.
Core Claims: The filing accuses Burke of manipulating and sexually abusing Celeste beginning when she was a minor, before allegedly killing and dismembering her at his Hollywood Hills home in April 2025 to conceal the abuse.
The civil suit surfaces amidst ongoing criminal proceedings where Burke has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and related charges. While the criminal case works its way through the justice system, this new lawsuit aims to hold not only the artist accountable, but also looks at whether the adults and corporate entities surrounding him failed in their duty to protect the minor.
