The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has officially filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, alleging wrongful death, human trafficking, sexual battery, and childhood assault following the teenager’s tragic death and the discovery of her remains in September 2025.
- The Charges: The civil complaint filed by the teen’s family alleges wrongful death, fatal stabbing, sexual battery, childhood assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and human trafficking.
- The Defendants: Alongside the singer, the lawsuit targets his mother Colleen Burke (who served as his personal finance director), business associates, management representatives, a live-in security guard, and his corporate entities.
- The Criminal Backdrop: The civil action follows D4vd’s arrest and not-guilty plea in April on criminal charges including first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
Unpacking the Civil Complaint in Los Angeles Court
The legal fallout surrounding the artist known as D4vd took a severe new turn this week. According to court filings accepted and stamped by the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is pursuing extensive civil damages. The complaint avoids specifying a concrete dollar amount, instead leaving the determination of financial and punitive damages up to a trial jury.
Here is the kicker. The litigation reaches far beyond the performer himself. The civil suit casts a wide net over the singer’s inner circle, naming his mother Colleen Burke—identified in court records as his personal finance director—as well as his principal recording enterprise, his music-publishing company, the head of his music-management firm who acted as his personal manager, his day-to-day manager living at his Hollywood Hills residence, and a live-in security guard. An attorney representing Colleen Burke declined to comment on the matter when contacted by ABC News, and attempts to reach the remaining named businesses and associates were unsuccessful.
This civil escalation arrives just days after what would have been Rivas Hernandez’s 16th birthday, following a community vigil held on September 7 to honor the late teenager.
The Criminal Investigation and the Evidence Trail
To understand the gravity of the civil complaint, one must look closely at the chilling timeline established by Los Angeles prosecutors. In September 2025, investigators discovered the badly decomposed and dismembered remains of Rivas Hernandez hidden inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd at a Hollywood impound lot. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner subsequently confirmed the body’s identity.
Prosecutors outline a dark trajectory leading up to that grim discovery. According to the state’s case, D4vd and Rivas Hernandez initiated a sexual relationship in 2023 when he was 18 years old and she was only 13. Investigators allege that the singer ultimately killed the teenager after she threatened to expose their illegal relationship, a scandal that prosecutors claim could have ruined his career.
The timeline grew even darker in April 2025. Just as tickets for his world tour were scheduled to go on sale, prosecutors state that the “Romantic Homicide” singer ordered an Uber that transported Rivas Hernandez directly to his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025. Law enforcement believes that was the last time the young girl was seen alive. Following the alleged murder, prosecutors state the artist took a series of “ghoulish” steps to dismember her body.
| Date / Period | Key Development | Context & Source Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Relationship Begins | Prosecutors allege D4vd (18) and Rivas Hernandez (13) began a sexual relationship. |
| April 23, 2025 | Last Sighting | An Uber brings Rivas Hernandez to the singer’s Hollywood Hills home; prosecutors allege she was killed shortly after. |
| September 2025 | Remains Discovered | Decomposed, dismembered remains are found in a Tesla registered to D4vd at a Hollywood impound lot. |
| April | Criminal Arrest & Charges | D4vd is arrested, charged with first-degree murder, and pleads not guilty while represented by a public defender. |
| Civil Lawsuit Filed | The victim’s family files a sweeping civil lawsuit against the singer, his mother, managers, and business entities. |
Navigating the Fallout Across the Entertainment Sphere
D4vd, whose tracks like “Romantic Homicide” built him a following, now relies on a public defender as his case proceeds through the criminal courts where he has entered a not-guilty plea.
As the legal battle shifts into civil court, the focus turns toward accountability not just for the artist, but for the corporate and personal scaffolding surrounding him.
What are your thoughts on how modern talent management and record labels handle accountability when artists face severe criminal charges? Let us know your perspective in the comments below.
