The family of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez released their first public statement after singer D4vd was charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.
“We would like to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for their hard work. We would also like to thank the people of Lake Elsinore for all their support,” the family said in a statement to ABC. “Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together,” the family wrote. “We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste.”
Although Rivas’ family was present during D4vd’s court appearance on Monday, April 20, and was expected to release a statement through their lawyer outside of the courtroom, the press conference was later canceled.
D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances in the killing of Rivas. The charge could carry a sentence of life in prison and is eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Along with the first-degree murder charge, L.A. County DA Nathan Hochman said the singer — whose real name is David Anthony Burke — would face charges of sexual acts with a person under 14 and mutilating the remains of a body. The special circumstances tied to the first-degree murder charge were lying in wait, murdering a witness in an ongoing investigation, and financial gain.
Regarding the special circumstances tied to the first-degree murder charge, Rivas was a witness in an ongoing investigation into Burke for “lewd and lascivious sexual acts” with a person under 14, according to Hochman. He added that the “financial gain” part of the murder charge was “for Mr. Burke to maintain his very lucrative musical career that Celeste was threatening.”
Following his arrest on April 16, Burke’s attorneys issued a statement denying he was a murderer. “Let us be clear, the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez, and he was not the cause of her death,” lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter said in the statement at the time, adding, “We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”
Eric Rojas*
