D4vd's Brother Demands Justice For Celeste Rivas' Family As Singer Turns Eligible For Death Penalty

The controversy surrounding R&B singer David Anthony Burke, aka D4vd, has taken another dramatic turn amid his ongoing trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Amid discussion that David's family has been trying to cover up his crimes with the recent removal of his TikTok account, his younger brother, Caleb Burke, publicly denied allegations that he helped cover up anything connected to the investigation. 

As David faces charges that could potentially make him eligible for the death penalty under California law, Caleb has now stepped forward with a lengthy statement, distancing himself from both the allegations and the growing online speculation surrounding his family.

What Caleb Burke said about the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case

Caleb said he had stayed silent for months because of the ongoing legal proceedings, but decided to respond after seeing increasing accusations online. Taking to Instagram Stories on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the 18-year-old insisted he had no knowledge of any alleged wrongdoing and was not trying to protect his brother. He wrote:

"I want justice for Celeste and her family. I've seen people say that I knew what was going on and was protecting my brother. This is not true at all..."

Caleb went on to say he has not lived with his brother for years and has long distanced himself from David, adding that they were "not very close" outside of occasional family interactions during tours or visits home. He blatantly stated:

"I have not lived with my brother for years, and was not very close with him. We didn't speak often other than when our family was brought on tour or he was visiting home."

Did Caleb Burke ever meet Celeste Rivas Hernandez in person?

In his Instagram statement, Caleb acknowledged that he indeed had met the teen a few times in person when he was around 15 years old. He said that his interactions with Celeste happened mainly during D4vd’s concerts and denied viral claims that he personally brought her backstage.

Caleb specifically addressed a resurfaced video showing him with Celeste after one of the shows, saying the clip was being misrepresented online. He wrote:

"People have been posting a video showing me backstage with her at one of D4vd's concerts when I was 15, and I have been wanting to address it for a while. People have even gone as far as to say that I was sneaking her backstage, which is not true... She was already at the show, and the video takes place after the show had already ended. In the video, we were sent to grab something from a fan that was in front of the stage, and we were walking back."

Caleb insisted that he “did not know her well” and also claimed he was unaware of her age at the time. He further denied having any involvement in the allegations surrounding the case and said he supports justice for Celeste and her family.

Pic: GoFundMe

Could D4vd face the death penalty for Celeste Rivas Hernandez's murder?

While David has stuck to his plea that he did not kill Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the trial has been ongoing, with prosecutors presenting strong forensic evidence to suggest otherwise. The already sensational case has escalated significantly after prosecutors argued that the charges against the 21-year-old meet California’s “special circumstances” threshold for capital punishment eligibility. They believe the case includes aggravating factors severe enough for the death penalty to be considered if the singer is convicted at trial.

However, no final decision has yet been made on whether prosecutors will formally pursue capital punishment. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman reportedly said that the determination will come later in the legal process. D4vd has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his legal team continues to maintain his innocence in Celeste Rivas Hernandez's murder.

Photo submitted by Celeste's family

D4vd's preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for May 26, 2026.

Pics: Instagram

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