D4vd hit with wrongful death lawsuit from Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s family
TheGrio...
The civil case names the singer, his manager, mother and security guard nearly one year after the teenager’s remains were discovered.
The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against singer D4vd and several people tied to him, nearly one year after the 14-year-old’s remains were found in the trunk of his Tesla. The lawsuit comes months after the singer was charged with first-degree murder and later ordered to stand trial in the teenager’s death.
Celeste’s family filed the civil case in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Sept. 7. TMZ reported on the lawsuit the following day, exactly one year after Celeste’s remains were discovered. D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is named alongside his manager Josh Marshall, his mother Colleen Burke, live-in security guard Sheldon Jacques and other entities connected to the singer.
The lawsuit contains 12 causes of action, including nine against D4vd. It alleges that people and companies around the singer knew or should have known about his alleged sexual exploitation of Celeste and failed to protect her, supervise him or stop the alleged abuse.
According to the suit, D4vd arranged in early 2024 for Celeste to be transported to and from his Hollywood Hills home during periods when she repeatedly left her family’s house. Her family alleges that Jacques helped remove her from home and bring her to the residence.
The civil case mirrors allegations already being litigated in D4vd’s criminal case. Prosecutors accuse the singer of killing Celeste in April 2025 and later dismembering her body. Her remains were discovered Sept. 8, 2025, inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd after the vehicle was impounded in Los Angeles.
D4vd has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and additional charges involving alleged sexual acts with a child under 14 and mutilation of human remains. A judge ruled in July that prosecutors had presented enough evidence for him to stand trial.
Celeste’s family has also publicly said it would support the death penalty if D4vd is convicted. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek it.
The lawsuit now expands the legal fight beyond the criminal prosecution, placing the singer’s associates and business network under scrutiny over what the family alleges they knew and failed to prevent.