The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has broken their silence for the first time since the shocking killing of the 14-year-old girl, whose remains were discovered last year in a Tesla linked to musician D4vd.
Their emotional statement came on Tuesday, one day after prosecutors charged the singer with first-degree murder in connection with her death.
In a message released to the public, the grieving family thanked investigators and their local community while remembering the teenager as a vibrant presence taken far too soon.
‘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. 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 family wrote.
‘We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste.’
The charges against the singer revealed key details and were among the first concrete public moves made in a grisly and horrific case that had been under a largely secret investigation in the seven months since Hernandez was found dead.
The D4vd, 21, whose legal name is David Burke, was charged with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 and mutilating a body, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said.
A defense lawyer entered not guilty pleas to all counts on behalf of Burke, who made his first court appearance Monday.
The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez released their first public statement after a suspect was charged with her murder
Musician D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
He appeared behind glass in a custody area, dressed in black. A judge said he would continue to be held without bail.
The girl’s parents appeared at the hearing. They looked down as they entered the courtroom and sat in the gallery.
Authorities alleged the Houston-born alt-pop singer killed Hernandez to protect a career on the rise after she threatened to report their sexual relationship.
His debut album, ‘Withered,’ was released just two days after authorities said she was last known to be alive.
She was reported missing by her family in 2024, when she was 13. That was her age when, according to allegations in a criminal complaint, the singer engaged in continuous sexual abuse of her for at least a year from September 2023 to September 2024.
California law penalizes abuse of a child under 14 especially harshly.
Authorities described her as a ‘runaway’ when she was killed with a sharp object on or around April 23, 2025, a day she was at Burke’s house in the Hollywood Hills.
