Full Breakdown
Family Urges Death Penalty for D4vd as Los Angeles DA Weighs Options
9/8/2026, 12:38:01 AM
Core Event
The parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez have publicly asked Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to seek the death penalty against David Anthony Burke—known professionally as the singer-rapper D4vd—if he is convicted of murdering their 14-year-old daughter. Hochman has said his office is still evaluating whether to pursue capital punishment in the upcoming trial.
Background & Context
Prosecutors allege that Burke began a sexual relationship with Celeste when she was 13 and he was 18, later fatally stabbing her after she threatened to expose the affair. Her dismembered remains were discovered in cadaver bags inside the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla in an impound lot in early September 2025. Burke was arrested in April 2026 and initially retained private counsel, which withdrew the week before his arraignment, leaving him represented by a public defender. A judge ruled on July 27 that sufficient evidence existed to move the case to trial.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14 years old at time of death; would have turned 16 on the day the family issued its statement.
- Suspect: David Anthony Burke, 21 years old, also known as D4vd.
- Charges: first-degree murder with special circumstances (lying in wait, financial gain, witness murder), continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
- Key procedural dates: July 27 – judge approved trial; April 23 – Burke arranged a rideshare that brought Celeste to his Hollywood Hills residence, a detail highlighted by police during a preliminary hearing.
Official Statements & Responses
- District Attorney Nathan Hochman: “Effective immediately, the prior administration’s extreme and categorical policy forbidding prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in any case is rescinded.” “Effective immediately, the prior administration’s extreme and categorical policy forbidding prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in any case is rescinded,” — Nathan Hochman, county district attorney He added that his office will conduct an extensive review before deciding whether to request capital punishment.
- They also expressed a mixture of grief and relief after the July 27 ruling that allowed the case to proceed to trial.
- Burke’s public defender: The defense has submitted a mitigation packet arguing against the death penalty, though the contents have not been disclosed publicly.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Effective immediately, the prior administration’s extreme and categorical policy forbidding prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in any case is rescinded,” — Nathan Hochman, county district attorney
What’s Next
A status conference is scheduled for October, after which the trial could begin within roughly 90 days. The DA’s final decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be announced before the trial commences.
