D4vd Murder Trial: Family Seeks Death Penalty in Civil Lawsuit

D4vd murder trial developments intensify as Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s family seeks the death penalty and files a wrongful-death lawsuit.

A Family’s Call for the Harshest Possible Penalty

The legal case surrounding singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has entered an even more painful chapter. The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is calling for the death penalty while also pursuing a wrongful-death lawsuit against Burke and several people and companies connected to him.

The family issued its statement on September 7, a date that would have marked Hernandez’s 16th birthday. Their message expressed grief, anger, and a desire for the most severe punishment available if Burke is convicted.

“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.”

The statement was released through the family’s attorney. In a separate message, Hernandez’s relatives said they were “reliving unforgettable moments even though she is no longer here” and described themselves as experiencing an overwhelming range of emotions.

For any family, a birthday is usually a day filled with memories, photographs, and the sweetness of watching a child grow. In this case, the date became another painful marker in a case that has already brought devastating allegations into public view.

The Murder Charges Against Burke

The family’s demand follows serious criminal charges against Burke. Prosecutors accuse him of killing Hernandez and dismembering her body with a chainsaw in his garage after purchasing tools online.

Burke was charged with murder in April. He has pleaded not guilty in court. He had previously denied allegations that he murdered and sexually abused Hernandez, whose severely decomposed remains were found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered in his name.

It is important to stress that these are accusations, not proven facts. Burke remains entitled to a defense, and the criminal case will ultimately be decided through the court process.

After a five-day preliminary hearing in July, a judge ruled that Burke would face a murder trial. During that hearing, prosecutors questioned 12 witnesses and presented photographic evidence while Hernandez’s family attended court.

The proceeding reportedly included graphic and distressing material. A homicide detective testified that Burke had purchased a body bag, chainsaws, an inflatable pool, and a shovel online in the days following Hernandez’s death.

Prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed Hernandez and then used a chainsaw to dismember her body in an effort to conceal the killing. They further claim the alleged murder followed years of sexual abuse and that Burke killed her because she had threatened to reveal their relationship and damage his music career.

Burke has denied the charges. According to the allegations presented in court, he told police that he did not know Hernandez was a minor and claimed he had met her in person only once, when she was 13.

Evidence Presented During the Hearing

The preliminary hearing also brought forward a series of disturbing details for the court to consider.

On the second day, testimony indicated that at least 11 air fresheners were found inside Burke’s Tesla alongside Hernandez’s remains. Investigators also reportedly discovered Burke’s DNA on garbage bags connected to the case.

Text messages between Burke and Hernandez were read in court as well. Those messages allegedly indicated that Hernandez had been pregnant and had undergone an abortion more than a year before her death.

Each piece of evidence will have to be evaluated through the criminal proceedings. That distinction matters, especially in a case surrounded by intense public attention and deeply emotional family statements. Court testimony can be upsetting and significant, but it is still part of an ongoing legal process rather than a final verdict.

A Separate Wrongful-Death Lawsuit

While the criminal case moves toward trial, Hernandez’s parents have filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages for wrongful death. The lawsuit names Burke as a defendant and also accuses his mother, managers, companies, and a security guard of negligence.

The civil complaint includes allegations of:

• Wrongful death
• Battery
• Sexual battery
• Childhood sexual assault
• Assault
• False imprisonment
• Human trafficking
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress

The complaint also alleges that Burke trafficked Hernandez by causing or inducing her to engage in commercial sex acts.

According to the filing, money, food, shelter, designer gifts, travel, a ring, and a promise of future marriage were allegedly provided in connection with sexual acts. The lawsuit argues that because Hernandez was a minor, her alleged consent or any claimed mistake about her age would not serve as a defense to the commercial-sex-act allegation.

Those claims remain allegations in a civil filing. The defendants had not responded to the lawsuit at the time of the report, and the parents are seeking unspecified damages that would be determined by a jury if the case proceeds to trial.

The Companies and Associates Named in the Suit

The lawsuit does not focus only on Burke’s personal conduct. It also names his publishing and merchandising companies, alleging that they served as financial vehicles connected to the abuse described in the complaint.

His managers, Josh Marshall and Robert Morgenroth, are listed as co-defendants alongside their company, Mogul Vision.

The filing also names Sheldon Jacques, Burke’s live-in security guard. Jacques is alleged to have driven Burke to collect Hernandez from her parents’ home before the family reported her missing in February 2024.

The complaint argues that the companies and management defendants provided or facilitated the residence, transportation, travel, communications, security, and logistical arrangements that allegedly allowed Burke to isolate Hernandez from her family and spend time alone with her.

The suit specifically claims that Mogul Vision leased the Los Angeles residence where Burke lived and where some of the alleged conduct occurred.

That detail forms an important part of the family’s broader argument: the lawsuit says responsibility may extend beyond the person accused of the direct acts if other parties knowingly helped create or maintain the circumstances in which the alleged abuse took place.

Allegations Involving Burke’s Mother

Burke’s mother, Colleen Burke, is also named in the civil case. According to the lawsuit, she acted as his personal financial manager, signed on his accounts, approved and paid bills, and controlled the flow of money connected to the business operation.

The complaint alleges that she helped fund living arrangements that housed Hernandez or enabled Burke to access her. It also claims that Hernandez, who was a minor, stayed at Colleen Burke’s home with Burke on one or more occasions.

The lawsuit argues that these actions created a duty to take reasonable steps to protect Hernandez. It accuses all of the co-defendants of failing to safeguard a minor and claims they knew, or should have known, about Burke’s alleged dangerous behavior and sexual exploitation.

The family further alleges that the defendants failed to supervise Burke, protect Hernandez, or prevent the alleged abuse from continuing.

Again, those accusations have not been established in court. The civil claims and criminal charges are separate proceedings, and each will require evidence, legal arguments, and judicial review.

Burke’s Defense Team Changes

Another major development came after Burke’s high-profile defense attorneys—Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter—confirmed that they would no longer represent him.

A lawyer from the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office has since taken over his defense. In their statement, the former attorneys said they would continue supporting Burke and his defense against the serious charges.

The change in legal representation adds another layer of uncertainty to an already complicated case. With a murder trial ahead and a civil lawsuit unfolding at the same time, Burke’s defense will face scrutiny in both criminal and civil court.

For fans who first knew D4vd through music, the contrast is jarring. The name once belonged to songs, performances, and online fan conversations. Now it is attached to a legal case involving allegations that are extraordinarily grave and emotionally devastating for Hernandez’s family.

What Happens Next

The criminal case will proceed toward trial after the judge’s preliminary ruling. Prosecutors are expected to continue presenting their theory that Burke killed Hernandez, attempted to conceal the crime, and was connected to a prolonged pattern of abuse.

Burke has pleaded not guilty and denied the accusations. The civil lawsuit will move on its own track, with Hernandez’s parents seeking damages and the named defendants expected to respond to the complaint.

The family’s call for the death penalty reflects the depth of their grief and anger, but whether that punishment can be pursued will depend on the applicable legal process and the eventual outcome of the criminal case.

Conclusion

The D4vd murder trial now sits at the center of two legal battles: a criminal prosecution over Hernandez’s death and a civil lawsuit accusing Burke and people around him of enabling or failing to stop alleged abuse. As the case continues, the most important voices remain those of Hernandez’s family, who are seeking accountability for a daughter they say was failed by the adults and systems around her.

FAQ

• What is D4vd charged with?
  D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors also accuse him of dismembering her body. Burke has pleaded not guilty.
• Why is Hernandez’s family seeking the death penalty?
  The family has called for the harshest available punishment because of the alleged violence, the reported efforts to conceal the death, and the broader abuse allegations described in the case.
• Who is named in the wrongful-death lawsuit?
  The lawsuit names Burke, his mother Colleen Burke, managers Josh Marshall and Robert Morgenroth, their company Mogul Vision, security guard Sheldon Jacques, and Burke’s publishing and merchandising companies.
• What damages are Hernandez’s parents seeking?
  The parents are seeking unspecified damages. The amount would be determined by a jury if the civil case reaches trial.
• Has D4vd been convicted?
  No. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and the allegations against him have not been proven. The criminal case remains ongoing.

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