Celeste Rivas’ family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against D4vd exactly one year after the 14-year-old’s remains were found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to the singer.
In addition to D4vd, 21, the teen’s family is suing Mogul Vision, which the family claims leased his Los Angeles residence and helped arrange for a live-in security guard, TMZ reported on Tuesday, September 8. The security guard, Sheldon Jacques, is also reportedly named in the suit, as well as D4vd’s manager, Josh Marshall, and D4vd’s mom, Colleen Burke.
According to the suit, D4vd (real name David Anthony Burke) arranged for Rivas to be transported to and from his home in early 2024. He allegedly enlisted Jacques to help remove Rivas from her home and bring her to his Hollywood Hills residence.
The suit also claims that people associated with D4vd should have known about his alleged sexual exploitation of Rivas and failed to protect her. (He was accused of engaging in a long-term sexual relationship with Rivas beginning when she was 13 years old and allegedly continuing to pursue her even after authorities warned him about Rivas’ age.)
Us reached out to the family’s lawyer and D4vd’s criminal attorney for comment.
Rivas’ remains were discovered in the trunk of D4vd’s impounded car in Los Angeles in April 2025. One year later, the “Romantic Homicide” singer was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years of age and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office alleged that D4vd killed Rivas on April 23, 2025, one day after they had a “lengthy argument” over text messages.
According to investigators, the musician allegedly stabbed Rivas to death in the garage of his home before using a chainsaw and other tools to dismember her body.
D4vd’s former legal team denied the singer was involved in Rivas’ death in the wake of his arrest. He pleaded not guilty to murder during an arraignment hearing on August 31. At the time, he also replaced his high-profile legal team, including celebrity lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, with a public defender.
D4vd has a pre-trial hearing set for October 19. Ahead of the trial, Rivas’ family stated that they are in support of the artist facing the possibility of the death penalty should he be convicted.
“If the death penalty were activated, it would be perfect for this kind of human being, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside, and without conscience, who only caused pain to our daughter, our family, and the world that supports our precious daughter,” Rivas’ family told The California Post on Sunday, September 6, one day before what would have been her 16th birthday.
The statement continued, “But that’s not in our hands, but rather in God’s, and the California justice system.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
If you know of a young person who is being exploited or is the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at http://tips.fbi.gov/.
