Latest
Democrats hit back at Trump after president floats changing name of New Mexico to ‘New America’ - US politics liveGoogle’s revived nuclear power plant gets $1.9B loan from US governmentFAA Investigates Drone Pilot Who Films Animal AbusersA New Organism’s “Alien” Reproduction, Levitation and Dark Matter, and Genetic Evidence of an Ancient KillerTSA now allowing non-ticketed visitors into terminals at several US airportsLive updates: Canadian tariffs take effect as Trump threatens Bombardier; White House hosts 9/11 remembrancePusheen’s first game is coming to Apple ArcadeDemocrats hit back at Trump after president floats changing name of New Mexico to ‘New America’ - US politics liveGoogle’s revived nuclear power plant gets $1.9B loan from US governmentFAA Investigates Drone Pilot Who Films Animal AbusersA New Organism’s “Alien” Reproduction, Levitation and Dark Matter, and Genetic Evidence of an Ancient KillerTSA now allowing non-ticketed visitors into terminals at several US airportsLive updates: Canadian tariffs take effect as Trump threatens Bombardier; White House hosts 9/11 remembrancePusheen’s first game is coming to Apple Arcade
← Top America

Family of slain 14-year-old calls for death penalty in D4vd murder trial

Confirmed1 source · Sep 8, 2026

Singer David Anthony Burke is on trial for the September 2025 killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in his Tesla; her family has demanded execution.

Family of slain 14-year-old calls for death penalty in D4vd murder trial
Image via The Guardian

What happened

Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was last seen on 23 April 2025 and her dismembered body was discovered in the trunk of singer D4vd's (David Anthony Burke's) Tesla on 8 September 2025. Burke, 21, was charged with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14, and mutilating a body; he has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Celeste multiple times at his home and severed her limbs to prevent her from disclosing a sexual relationship that began when she was 13 and he was 18 in November 2023. On what would have been Celeste's 16th birthday, her family released a statement calling for Burke to face the death penalty. Burke's high-profile defense lawyers withdrew from the case in late August without stated reason and were replaced by a public defender; he has been ordered held without bail pending trial.

Context

The case centers on a documented sexual relationship between the defendant and the victim that began when she was a minor below the age of legal consent. Evidence presented at preliminary hearing included photographs of them together, messages discussing a pregnancy and abortion, and a tattoo of the defendant's name on one of two fingers severed from the victim's body. The severity of charges—particularly first-degree murder carrying potential capital punishment—reflects the prosecution's theory that the defendant killed to conceal the illegal relationship. The family's public demand for execution and the defense strategy denying intent or evidence of the killing establish the contours of the contested case.

What's disputed

The defense contests whether Burke had any intent to kill Celeste and argues there is no witness or camera evidence placing her inside his home during the alleged timeframe of the killing.