The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has publicly demanded justice as their attorney challenges singer D4vd's claim of financial hardship, which he used to replace his private legal team with a public defender in the ongoing murder case in Los Angeles. D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of sexually abusing and murdering the teenager before mutilating her body, with the family's lawyer arguing that Burke's ownership of three companies undermines his indigence claim and could leave taxpayers unfairly funding his defence.

Burke allegedly began a relationship with Rivas Hernandez when she was 11 and is accused of killing her in April 2025 after she threatened to expose the relationship, with her remains later found in his Tesla. A preliminary hearing in July revealed graphic evidence including blood stains, chainsaw purchases and explicit messages, and a judge ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Burke, dropped by his record label, has pleaded not guilty to murder, continuous sexual abuse and body-mutilation charges, with prosecutors still undecided on seeking the death penalty and his next court date set for October.