The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is speaking out against rumors that the teen’s alleged killer, D4vd, paid them off to keep quiet. Online speculations stated that Hernandez’s family was given hush money to conceal the singer’s inappropriate relationship with the underage teen. The Hernandez family’s statement comes days after details of the teen’s death were publicly released.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Father Shuts Down Rumors
On May 1, the father of slain 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, Jesus, issued a statement via the family’s attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, shutting down claims that they took hush money from David Burke, more popularly known as D4vd.
Prosecutors’ court filings allege that Hernandez was just 11 years old when she met D4vd, and they began a sexual relationship when she was 13. Rumors that the teen’s parents accepted a bribe to keep quiet started spreading online, and now Jesus is firmly rejecting the idea.
“I never had any contact with this guy, and we haven’t received any money from him or anyone in his family,” Jesus declared, per Steinfeld, according to Rolling Stone.
A nine-page filing presented by prosecutors says that Hernandez’s family found D4vd’s phone number in the teen’s records, and the singer was told he was underage. According to the prosecutors, D4vd continued to pursue the teen and paid an individual $1,000 to give a separate phone to Hernandez so they could keep in contact without alerting her family.
The Teen’s Family Is ‘Shocked’ By The Gruesome Details
Hernandez’s family has remained largely silent as the case against D4vd grows, and according to Steinfeld, they were “shocked” and horrified by the grisly details laid out in court. Hernandez’s autopsy report was only released shortly after D4vd’s arrest, and the prosecutors detailed the timeline of events and the specifics of the teen’s murder.
Steinfeld said he had the difficult job of informing the family what happened to their daughter, and knowing what was done to her left them speechless. “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,” the attorney explained.
The Teen’s Parents Were Cleared In An Investigation
Hernandez’s parents reported her missing in February 2024, but she returned to the family home just days later. Two months later, the teen ran away from home again, prompting her parents to file another report.
According to TMZ, the teen’s parents became the subject of an investigation over child neglect and abuse shortly after they reported their daughter missing. A sheriff said that they received a call from an unnamed individual who “expressed concern about a juvenile who had run away.” Deputies responded to the call and interviewed all the people in the teen’s home, but they didn’t find evidence of abuse or neglect, and the parents were cleared.
On September 8, 2025, Hernandez’s dismembered remains were discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd.
D4vd And Celeste Rivas Hernandez Texted About Pregnancy And Abortion
Prosecutors also revealed text messages between D4vd and Hernandez that they retrieved, some of which included conversations about pregnancy and abortion. The teen’s death certificate previously noted that she was not pregnant at the time of her death, but it was amended to “U,” which stands for “unknown.”
D4vd has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and mutilation of human remains. Attorney R.J. Drieling, who isn’t involved in the case, said D4vd may face an additional charge if it can be proven that Hernandez was pregnant when she was killed.
“It doesn’t matter if D4vd knew she was pregnant or not, he still could potentially be facing a murder charge for that issue,” Drieling noted.
The Prosecutions’ Allegations Against D4vd
Hernandez’s family last had contact with her in May 2024, and she was last seen alive in April 2025. According to the prosecution, as previously reported by The Blast, D4vd and the teen argued, and the latter threatened to ruin the singer’s career by exposing their illicit relationship.
Hernandez went to D4vd’s home on the night of April 23, 2025, and that’s when the singer allegedly murdered her. The prosecution claims that D4vd stabbed the teen multiple times and “stood by” as she lay bleeding. He then allegedly proceeded to dismember her with chainsaws that she purchased online.
D4vd pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. He is due in court for a preliminary hearing on May 26.