D4vd's Family Challenges Subpoena in Teen Death Case
The family of singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, is actively resisting a court order to testify in the investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas. Rivas was found deceased and dismembered in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to D4vd near his Hollywood Hills residence on September 8, 2024. Her family reported she was last seen in spring 2024, leaving home to watch a movie with the singer and never returning.
Legal Battle Over Testimony
According to recent court filings obtained by the Los Angeles Times, D4vd's parents, Dawud and Colleen Burke, along with his brother Caleb, were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury. However, the family has filed three petitions in a Texas appeals court, where they currently reside, arguing they were denied due process. Their legal team contends that redacted affidavits prevented them from understanding why they are considered material witnesses in the case.
A lower court previously denied their petition, and the 1st District Court of Appeals upheld this decision on Monday. The appeals panel has scheduled another hearing for February 24, 2025, as the legal dispute continues.
Sealed Grand Jury Proceedings
Grand jury proceedings began in fall 2024 but have been closed to the public, with testimonies sealed. An anonymous source described the proceedings as an 'investigative grand jury' to the Los Angeles Times. In a footnote of the filing, the court referenced 'The People of the State of California v David Burke,' marking the first official case appearance against D4vd in Rivas's death investigation, though no public filings are available.
An LAPD detective's document from November 2024 referred to the case as 'an investigation into murder,' and a petition was filed to prevent the LA County medical examiner from releasing Rivas's autopsy results. The coroner confirmed a court-ordered security hold on the case, so the cause of death remains undisclosed.
Witnesses and Arrests
Sources indicate that D4vd's tour manager, Robert Morgenroth, and streamer friend Neo Langston have testified before the grand jury. Langston was arrested in Montana earlier this year for failing to appear in California court as a witness, with Helena police assisting the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division.
It remains unclear why prosecutors have called D4vd's family to testify. The Daily Mail has reached out to Dawud and Colleen Burke for comment, but their representation was not immediately available.
Property Transfers and Police Incidents
Since Rivas's death, the Burke family has maintained a low profile. However, documents obtained by TMZ in October 2024 revealed that D4vd transferred the deeds of two Houston homes to his mother. The first transfer occurred on September 18, 2024, one day after authorities raided his Hollywood Hills rental, and the second on September 22, 2024.
On September 18, Texas police responded to a false 911 call reporting a shooting at one of the homes. Body camera footage showed D4vd informing officers that everyone was safe, in what was described as a squatting incident.
D4vd has not been formally charged in connection to Rivas's death. Prior to the incident, he was an emerging music star, seen at Paris Fashion Week in June 2025. The investigation continues as legal and procedural complexities unfold.
