The parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl whose death is at the center of a high-profile criminal case, have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the singer known as D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke. The suit was submitted Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, following Burke’s not-guilty plea to charges of felony first-degree murder and related offenses.
In the complaint, Celeste’s parents, Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Edgardo Rivas Alvarado, detail allegations of prolonged manipulation and abuse by Burke during a sexual relationship with their daughter that reportedly began when she was 13. The suit accuses Burke of impregnating Celeste and compelling her to undergo an abortion at that age. It further claims that Burke arranged for her transportation to his Los Angeles residence before killing her and severing her limbs.
The lawsuit also includes allegations of human trafficking, asserting that Burke induced Celeste to engage in sex acts through exchanges of money, food, shelter, designer gifts, travel, a ring, and promises of future marriage. It describes Burke’s conduct as “extreme and outrageous,” exceeding civilized community standards. In addition to Burke, the suit names his mother, two business managers, and his live-in security guard as defendants, along with several of Burke’s entertainment and merchandising companies. The plaintiffs seek damages and legal fees related to claims of emotional distress, false imprisonment, and childhood sexual assault.
Burke, 21, is notable for creating a widely recognized anthem associated with the video game Fortnite and released portions of his studio album “Withered” last year. Despite his commercial success, including reported gross earnings exceeding $10 million from 2023 through 2025, Burke was recently deemed indigent and assigned a public defender after his private attorneys withdrew.
Celeste’s family has publicly disputed Burke’s indigence status, emphasizing his millionaire status and citing his streaming platform reach of approximately 16 million monthly listeners. They contend that his assets are shielded by his companies.
Prosecutors allege that Burke used concealed communication methods, including a hidden cellphone with false identities, to maintain contact with Celeste without her parents’ knowledge and arranged her travel. Defense evidence presented at a July preliminary hearing indicated that Celeste’s family was aware of the relationship and had permitted supervised visits, including a trip to London in 2024.
Authorities have accused Burke of fatally stabbing Celeste after she threatened to reveal their illicit relationship, which prosecutors say jeopardized his rising music career. Burke was arrested in April, months after Celeste’s heavily decomposed body was discovered in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla.
A trial date for Burke has not yet been established. If convicted, he faces either life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has not announced which sentence it will seek. Celeste’s family, via their attorney Patrick Steinfeld, has expressed support for the death penalty, describing Burke as “devoid of feelings and emptiness inside,” and holding him responsible for immense pain suffered by their daughter and family.