Last Updated: September 9, 2026 
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The parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez have filed a civil lawsuit against singer D4vd and several people and companies associated with him while the criminal prosecution concerning the teenager’s death remains pending.
According to news reports, Hernandez’s parents, Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Edgardo Rivas Alvarado, brought the case in Los Angeles County Superior Court. In addition to Burke, the complaint names his manager, a talent-management company, a security guard, his mother and businesses allegedly affiliated with him.
The complaint reportedly asserts claims including wrongful death, childhood sexual assault, sexual battery, false imprisonment, human trafficking and negligence-related liability. The parents are seeking monetary damages, including compensation for Hernandez’s funeral and burial expenses.
These are allegations made in a civil complaint. They have not been proven in court, and the filing of the lawsuit does not establish that Burke or any other defendant is legally responsible for Hernandez’s death.
Civil Complaint Parallels Allegations in Criminal Case
The civil complaint repeats several allegations that prosecutors have raised in Burke’s pending criminal prosecution.
According to the lawsuit, Burke contacted Hernandez online and met her in person when she was 13. Her parents allege that Burke subsequently engaged in an unlawful sexual relationship with her and exercised control over her through money, gifts, travel, housing and promises concerning their future.
The complaint alleges that Hernandez traveled to Burke’s Hollywood Hills residence in April 2025 after the two exchanged messages about their relationship. Her parents claim that Burke fatally stabbed her and later dismembered her body in an effort to conceal her death.
Hernandez’s decomposed and dismembered remains were found on September 8, 2025, in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke. The vehicle had been reported abandoned and taken to a tow yard before workers alerted authorities.
These allegations reflect the family’s civil complaint and the prosecution’s theory in the criminal case. They have not been established as facts at trial.
Lawsuit Names People and Businesses Associated With D4vd
The civil complaint extends beyond Burke and names several individuals and business entities allegedly connected to his career and personal affairs.
According to court reporting, the defendants include Burke’s manager, a talent-management executive, his security guard, his mother and companies affiliated with his entertainment, publishing and merchandise operations.
The complaint alleges that these defendants knew or should have known about Burke’s alleged relationship with Hernandez and failed to take reasonable measures to protect her, supervise Burke or prevent the alleged abuse.
It also claims that certain defendants provided or facilitated housing, transportation, financial support or other resources that allegedly enabled Burke’s conduct.
Those defendants are entitled to respond to the complaint. No court has determined that they knew about, participated in, or bear civil responsibility for the conduct alleged by Hernandez’s parents.
Civil Lawsuit Is Separate From Criminal Prosecution
The family’s lawsuit and Burke’s criminal prosecution are separate legal proceedings governed by different rules and burdens of proof.
In the criminal case, prosecutors must prove each charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. In the civil case, Hernandez’s parents must prove the elements of their claims under the applicable civil standard, which is generally a preponderance of the evidence.
The civil lawsuit seeks monetary damages and other relief available under civil law. It cannot determine Burke’s criminal guilt or impose a criminal sentence.
Burke, 21, faces a murder charge with special-circumstance allegations, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and one count of unlawful mutilation of human remains. The murder charge includes special-circumstance allegations involving the killing of a witness, financial gain and lying in wait.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in custody without bail. He is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Judge Previously Ordered Burke to Stand Trial
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge previously determined that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence at a preliminary hearing for Burke to stand trial.
A preliminary hearing does not decide whether a defendant is guilty. Its purpose is to determine whether sufficient evidence exists for the criminal prosecution to move forward.
The prosecution must still prove the charges at trial, where Burke will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence and present a defense.
Brownstone Law previously reported on the development and Burke’s not-guilty plea. Read the earlier coverage here: D4vd Switches to Public Defender as Murder Case Moves Forward.
Public Defender Now Represents Burke in Criminal Case
The civil lawsuit follows a recent change in Burke’s criminal defense team.
Burke’s privately retained attorneys withdrew from the criminal case on August 31, 2026. The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office subsequently assumed his defense, with Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel representing him.
The precise circumstances behind the withdrawal of Burke’s private attorneys have not been publicly disclosed. A change in legal representation does not establish anything about a defendant’s guilt or the strength of the prosecution’s case.
It was not immediately clear whether Burke had retained separate counsel to respond to the civil complaint. The public defender’s office represents him in the criminal proceeding and, as a matter of policy, does not comment on pending cases.
Burke is scheduled to return to criminal court on October 19, 2026. No criminal trial date or verdict has been announced.
Family Asks Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty
Hernandez’s parents have publicly called on the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to seek the death penalty against Burke.
The District Attorney’s Office has said that Burke could face death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged. However, prosecutors have not announced a final decision on whether they will seek the death penalty.
That decision rests with prosecutors and is separate from the family’s civil lawsuit. The wrongful death case may result in civil damages if the plaintiffs establish liability, but it cannot impose imprisonment or any other criminal punishment.
Both cases remain pending. The civil allegations have not been adjudicated, and Burke has not been convicted of the criminal charges.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes and reports on pending civil and criminal proceedings. The allegations described in the civil complaint and criminal charges have not been proven at trial. David Anthony Burke, professionally known as D4vd, has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The other defendants named in the civil lawsuit are entitled to respond to the claims against them. A preliminary-hearing ruling permitting a criminal case to proceed is not a finding of guilt. This article does not constitute legal advice.
