D4vd Hit With New Wrongful Death Lawsuit From Celeste Rivas Hernández’s Family

D4vd has been hit with a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Celeste Rivas Hernández, opening a new legal front against the singer and several people and companies tied to him as he awaits trial on murder and child sexual abuse charges.

Celeste’s parents, Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas, filed the case in Los Angeles County Superior Court against D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, along with his mother, management company, finance manager, live-in security guard, and several businesses connected to his music career.

The complaint accuses Burke of sexually abusing Celeste beginning when she was 13 before killing her at his Hollywood Hills home in April 2025. Her parents also claim people around the singer helped create the circumstances that allowed the alleged relationship to continue and failed to protect their daughter.

Along with wrongful death, the family asserts claims including childhood sexual assault, sexual battery, human trafficking, false imprisonment and negligence. By naming Burke’s inner circle and affiliated companies, the lawsuit could extend potential civil liability well beyond the singer himself.

Burke, 21, has pleaded not guilty in the separate criminal case. A judge ordered him to stand trial in July on charges of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

Prosecutors have also alleged special circumstances involving the killing of a witness, murder for financial gain and lying in wait. If convicted as charged, Burke could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

Much of the family’s civil case follows the timeline prosecutors presented during Burke’s preliminary hearing. Celeste’s parents allege he began a sexual relationship with their daughter in November 2023, when she was 13 and Burke was 18, and remained involved with her for more than a year.

The two exchanged thousands of messages, according to the lawsuit. The family also claims Burke continued seeing Celeste after a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy warned him that she was a minor.

Prosecutors contend Burke’s growing music career later became part of the motive for the killing. Messages introduced in the criminal case show Celeste threatening to expose him shortly before her death, including one in which she allegedly told him she would end his career and his life.

On April 23, 2025, Burke arranged transportation for Celeste from Riverside County to his Hollywood Hills residence, according to prosecutors and the civil complaint. Authorities allege he killed her after she arrived and later tried to conceal her death.

Investigators found blood matching Celeste’s DNA profile in Burke’s garage. Her dismembered remains were discovered on Sept. 8, 2025, inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke after the vehicle was reported abandoned and impounded.

The lawsuit places particular focus on the people and businesses surrounding Burke during the alleged relationship.

Among the defendants are D4vd Entertainment, Headspace Publishing and Skullrose Merchandise. The case also names management company Mogul Vision, finance manager Robert Mogenroth and security guard Sheldon Jacques.

Mogul Vision allegedly helped provide Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence and hired Jacques, who lived at the property. Celeste’s parents claim Jacques knew their daughter was spending time there and helped transport her.

Burke’s mother, Colleen Burke, is also named. The lawsuit alleges she handled parts of her son’s business affairs, while Mogenroth approved payments tied to Burke’s housing, travel and other expenses.

The family claims those defendants knew or should have known about Burke’s alleged exploitation of Celeste and failed to intervene. Mogul Vision and Mogenroth have previously denied knowing about Burke’s relationship with the teenager.

The civil case gives Celeste’s parents a separate path to seek damages while prosecutors pursue criminal punishment. It also allows them to test whether people and companies around Burke can be held financially responsible for their own alleged roles in the events leading up to her death.

The lawsuit comes as Celeste’s family continues to urge Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to seek the death penalty if Burke is convicted. Hochman has not announced whether prosecutors will pursue capital punishment.

Family attorney Patrick Steinfeld has also accused Burke of moving or shielding assets through companies and transfers to his mother ahead of potential civil claims. Those allegations have not been established in court.

Burke is now represented in the criminal case by the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office after his private attorneys withdrew. He remains jailed without bail and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 19 as the murder prosecution and the family’s new civil case move forward.