Celeste Rivas family facing ‘indescribable pain’ after learning brutal murder details

The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered and dismembered by D4vd is going through “indescribable pain” after learning the horrid details of how she allegedly died.

“Last night I had the heartbreaking responsibility of informing the Rivas Hernandez family of the
horrifying allegations submitted in court yesterday that David Anthony Burke allegedly stabbed
Celeste, “stood by while she bled” to death, used a chainsaw to cut off her limbs, and bought a
“burn cage” with the plan to “incinerate the evidence,”” the family’s attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, said in a statement.

Steinfeld called breaking the news to the family the “most difficult thing” he’s ever had to do in his 37 years as a lawyer.

Steinfeld said he first encouraged the family to speak out. “However, in light of the gruesome details emerging almost daily, the family has decided not to make any statements now or in the future,” he added.

“There are no words to express the indescribable pain the family is experiencing right now. They still
have bills to pay and jobs they go to every day. All they want is time to grieve and heal,” Steinfeld said.

The singer, real name David Burke, was arrested for murder in the death Rivas on April 16 after LAPD officers swooped in on a Hollywood Hills home the singer was staying.

Burke could face the death penalty after gruesome details emerged when the singer was charged with murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas — more than seven months after the teen’s dismembered body was found in a Tesla linked to him.

Burke, was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances — lying in wait, murder of a witness to an investigation and murder for financial gain — in an announcement made by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman on April 20.

He’s also charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and mutilating the human remains of a body.

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Burke allegedly murdered Rivas on the night of April 23, 2025, after he ordered an Uber to deliver Rivas from her family home in Lake Elsinore to his Hollywood Hills home, according to legal documents obtained by The California Post.

He then stabbed her and stood by while she bled to death, prosecutors charge.

Burke allegedly ordered a shovel from Home Depot the following day and had it delivered to his home by Postmates.

About a week later, he ordered two chainsaws from Amazon that were delivered to his home, and on May 5, he allegedly ordered a body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags and a blue inflatable pool, court documents show.

He allegedly used the fake name Victoria Mendez to make the purchases.

The star, who was taken into custody by the LAPD’s robbery-homicide division, is being held without bail.

Burke was in court Wednesday for a procedural hearing where his attorney said she was concerned about the alleged evidence becoming public.

Last week it was revealed that a “significant” amount of child pornography allegedly was found on Burke’s iPhone in a search of the device. 

Burke’s preliminary hearing is scheduled to start Friday. He’s pleaded not guilty to all charges.

According to court documents reviewed by The Post, Burke allegedly placed Rivas’ body into the blue inflatable pool to prevent her blood from making a mess on his garage floor and used the chainsaw and possibly other tools to cut off her limbs.

Investigators found plastic fragments embedded in Rivas’ remains that matched those found in the pool purchased by Burke on Amazon, according to the documents.

Burke also allegedly amputated Rivas’ left ring and pinky fingers because her ring finger bore a tattoo of his name — and those fingers were never recovered, the documents state.

Investigators served a search warrant at Burke’s home in September 2025, where they allegedly “discovered evidence consistent with the dismemberment of the victim’s body in the inflatable pool.”

Investigators claim to have gathered 40 terabytes of data through a lengthy investigation. They also revealed they conducted a wiretap. 

Rivas died from “multiple penetrating injuries,” according to the Los Angeles County Corner’s Office.

Rivas’ dismembered body was discovered Sept. 8, 2025, in the trunk of a Tesla belonging to Burke. 

It took investigators several months to determine the cause and manner of death — reaching a conclusion on December 8, 2025.

Exclusive video obtained by The California Post shows the moment Burke was hauled away in cuffs from his Hollywood mansion, flanked by officers. 

Rivas’ parents broke their silence on the alleged crime in a statement issued by Steinfeld last Tuesday.

“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,” her parents Jesus and Mercedes said in a statement.

“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 grieving parents added.