The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is now publicly calling for her accused killer, the singer known as D4vd, to face the death penalty.

On Sunday, the eve of what would’ve been her 16th birthday, the family released a new photo of her, along with a statement saying the death penalty for D4vd “would be perfect for this kind of human being, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside, and without conscience.”

Steinfeld Law Firm

“…But that’s not in our hands, but rather in God’s, and the California justice system,” the family statement continued.

When asked if this puts pressure on L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to pursue the death penalty, former prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney RJ Dreiling said, “That is now the million-dollar question.”

“If there was ever going to be a case that Nathan Hochman is going to be presented with where he’s going to go for the death penalty, it’s going to be this one,” said Dreiling.

The last execution in California happened two decades ago.

“We know there is a moratorium in California on the death penalty, which means that no one is being executed, but that could easily be lifted at any time with any governor,” Dreiling said. “It’s going to be very interesting to see how Nathan Hochman is going to handle this. He said, when he ran for DA, ‘I am open to the death penalty in very, very egregious cases.’ And this one, on its face, certainly seems to qualify.”

ABC7 On Your Side Investigates asked the DA’s office for its reaction to the Rivas Hernandez family statement, but the office has not yet responded.

READ MORE: Timeline of investigation into 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death

Singer D4vd is now being represented by a public defender after his previous lawyers withdrew from his murder case last week.

Celeste was just 14 when prosecutors say her then-boyfriend, David Anthony Burke, the singer’s full name, murdered her and left her dismembered body in his car in 2025.

Burke is behind bars and has been ordered to stand trial on a murder charge in her death. The 21-year-old has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court next month.

In July, a judge ordered him to stand trial after hearing evidence and days of testimony during a preliminary hearing.

In the hearing, photos of Celeste’s decomposing remains were shown to the court. Prosecutors allege that D4vd brutally killed Celeste last year because he was afraid she would go public with their sexual relationship and ruin his budding music career.

Singer D4vd is now being represented by a public defender after his previous lawyers withdrew from his murder case on Monday.
After D4vd was dropped by his attorneys and assigned a public defender, Celeste’s family issued a statement, claiming he is not indigent (cannot afford to pay for a private lawyer), but is instead hiding his money in various corporations.

The family expressed doubt about his financial situation, citing his billions of streams and monthly listeners on music streaming platforms.

“The residents of Los Angeles County should be outraged because it will be the taxpayers that are picking the tab to defend this millionaire…,” the family’s statement read, in part. “Perhaps he would have money if he just asked one of his corporations, or if he had not fraudulently transferred assets to his mother/manager Colleen Burke.”

D4vd is known for songs like “Romantic Homicide.” The music video for the song includes a blood-stained knife and rose.

“Only a sick, disturbed mind like David Anthony Burke would think that a homicide is romantic,” said Patrick Steinfeld, the attorney for the Rivas Hernandez Family.