D4vd's new attorney is making moves for a face-to-face conversation with Celeste Rivas' alleged murderer, TMZ has learned.
According to court docs obtained by TMZ, the public defender recently assigned to D4vd's case asked the judge to facilitate an in-person meeting in a private area of the L.A. jail where the singer is locked up.
The public defender explained that in order to provide D4vd with effective assistance of counsel, he needs to review all the evidence against him, including social media evidence and possibly video evidence.
11:49 AM PT -- In addition to D4vd, the Rivas family is suing Josh Marshall, D4vd's manager; Colleen Burke, D4vd's mom; and Sheldon Jacques, D4vd's live-in security guard.
D4vd is now facing a fight outside his criminal case ... the family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the singer.
The suit comes exactly one year after Celeste's dismembered remains were discovered in the trunk of D4vd's Tesla on September 8, 2025.
D4vd -- whose real name is David Anthony Burke -- is already charged with murdering the 14-year-old ... along with lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and mutilating a body. He's pleaded not guilty.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez's family is remembering her on what would have been her 16th birthday ... sharing an emotional message about the daughter and sister they say they will never stop missing.
The family tells TMZ, through their attorney Patrick Steinfeld, "Today we are experiencing so many emotions" ... describing how they're praying and singing "Happy Birthday" while reliving unforgettable memories of Celeste.
The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez wants prosecutors to go all the way if D4vd is convicted of murdering the 14-year-old ... reportedly backing the death penalty on the eve of what would've been Celeste's 16th birthday.
Celeste's family supports capital punishment in the case against the singer, telling us, "If the death penalty were activated, it would be perfect for this kind of human being," whom they described as "devoid of feelings" and "without conscience." New York Post was the first to report.
The family added the decision ultimately isn't theirs ... saying, "That's not in our hands, but rather in God's, and the California justice system."
The 3,153-square-foot property features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a pool, spa, cabana, and a steam shower in the primary bathroom. The recently updated home also has new flooring, high-end Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, and marble countertops.
D4vd apparently made a pen pal while behind bars ... one whom it appears he initially agreed to help bail out -- before backing out of his promise.
We've obtained letters D4vd sent to a "trustee," an incarcerated person who works inside the prison, who worked at a jail in Los Angeles. This trustee met D4vd while serving food in the joint ... becoming friendly before D4vd started writing him letters. We're told they would mail out the letters even though they were in the same facility.
You can read the letters for yourself ... they are religious in tone with D4vd writing that he's putting his faith in God and telling a fellow inmate to do the same.
D4vd’s father was making interesting financial moves in the past couple of months ... while his son faced money issues and is now repped by a public defender in his murder case ... TMZ has learned.
TMZ obtained real estate records showing D4vd’s dad, Dawud Burke, sold a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 1,819-square-foot home in Houston, Texas, for $229,000 in early July.
A couple months earlier in late April, documents show Dawud took out a $138K loan on a different property in Houston ... which appears to be a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom, 1,260-square-foot home.
10:30 AM PT -- Los Angeles D.A. Nathan Hochman addressed the media after the hearing ... saying the death penalty remains on the table, but prosecutors have not decided whether they will explore that route.
TMZ also asked Hochman about D4vd substituting his legal counsel ... and he said he expects the public defender will give the singer "zealous" representation as the case proceeds.
9:12 AM PT -- D4vd pleaded not guilty and is expected back in court on October 19.
D4vd has just suffered a big blow in his murder case ... his lawyers told the judge they can't rep him anymore, a public defender has stepped in, and it's apparent the singer has run out of cash.
Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter told the judge they are unable to continue representing D4vd. Although they did not give a reason, everything screams ... D4vd is broke.
Berk, Bednarski and Peter tell TMZ ... "This morning the court granted our request to withdraw as counsel and appointed the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, after it was determined David qualified for appointed counsel."
The lawyers go on ... "We continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges. We are grateful that the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office has taken over the representation and that David has a highly capable and committed team of attorneys and investigators behind him."
A public defender has stepped in, citing the fact D4vd is indigent.
The Hollywood Hills home where D4vd allegedly murdered Celeste Rivas Hernandez is sitting vacant and hoping for a new tenant ... and the rent just went down.
According to real estate records, the rental price dropped from $23,950 a month to $21,500 as it sits quietly on the market.
D4vd moved out in September 2025, just days after police searched the property in connection with the investigation into Celeste's death.
Prosecutors allege D4vd invited Celeste over to the home in April 2025 ... and she was never heard from again.
Celeste Rivas was not pregnant when prosecutors say D4vdkilled her ... clearing up a lingering question after an amendment to her death certificate created confusion.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office confirmed the finding Wednesday to PEOPLE... saying the 14-year-old was not carrying a child at the time of her April 2025 death.
The clarification comes days after prosecutors laid out an 18-month trail of deeply disturbing texts between Celeste and D4vd -- real name David Anthony Burke -- during his preliminary hearing.
Gruesome photos of Celeste Rivas' dismembered and decomposing remains were shown during D4vd's preliminary hearing ... but testimony about the unimaginable smell was just as powerful.
Dr. Grant Ho of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner told the judge the odor emanating from the teen's remains was so overwhelming they could actually be smelled down the hall before being brought into the examination room for the autopsy.
The horrifying detail is compelling because it was the smell of her decomposing remains that resulted in the case being opened in the first place ... the odor leading to the grisly discovery last September inside a Hollywood tow yard.
Prosecutors laid out the evidence they've gathered so far in their murder case against D4vd,but they also revealed a lengthy list of items investigators still haven't recovered ... including the alleged murder weapon and a couple of Celeste Rivas'allegedly severed fingers.
According to prosecutors, Celeste's left ring finger -- which was allegedly tattooed with D4vd's name -- and her pinky finger are unaccounted for. They say D4vd murdered Celeste with a sharp object, but they don't have the object and don't even know exactly what was allegedly used.
They say D4vd was in possession of those two fingers at some point ... ditto for a shovel, a blue Makita 10-inch chainsaw and a fire mat -- key evidence they say is MIA.
Additionally, both Celeste's and D4vd's cell phones, Celeste's purse, and security footage from his Hollywood Hills home recorded between 10:10 PM and 10:31 PM on April 23, 2025 -- the period when prosecutors allege D4vd murdered Celeste -- are still not available to investigators.
Prosecutors presented what they described as an 18-month text message trail between D4vd and Celeste Rivas … arguing the exchanges documented the progression of their relationship from pregnancy scares, abortion discussions and plans to live together ... leading up to her alleged murder.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman walked through messages dating back to November 2023 ... when prosecutors say Celeste was 13 and D4vd -- real name David Anthony Burke -- was 18 -- noting their initial communication began all the way back in August 2022, when Celeste was just 11.
Early texts included discussions about missed periods, ovulation tracking and pregnancy prevention -- with D4vd allegedly advising her about taking emergency contraceptives such as Plan B.
Silverman showed texts from December 31, 2023 ... where D4vd says to Celeste, "why not 1 band why u deserve ten," in which Celeste responds ... "10 because u f***** me ten times >.<" ... D4vd corrects her and says, "6 actually baby."
Here's Aysia Collins ... the woman who Celeste Rivas Hernandez seemingly grew jealous of the day before D4vdallegedly murdered her ... and the supposed catalyst behind Celeste's threatening texts.
Aysia was named in court during D4vd's preliminary hearing ... text messages between Celeste and D4vd showed Celeste erupting over D4vd's friendship with the model and streamer.
In one of the texts read aloud in court, Celeste sent David a threatening text after confronting him about hanging out with Aysia at his Hollywood Hills home ... with Celeste texting, "Oh my f***ing God, I swear to God, I'll kill u."
Celeste Rivas' family is blastingD4vd's lawyers for what they see as an effort to blame a 14-year-old ... after his defense raised the possibility she killed herself and referenced text messages where she threatened to kill him.
Patrick Steinfeld, who is representing Celeste's parents,held court Monday following D4vd's preliminary hearing ... saying he was disturbed by the defense's tactics in court.
Steinfeld blasted the defense for "stopping at nothing" to discredit the prosecution's evidence ... saying Celeste's family was horrified to hear D4vd's defense attorneys attempt to place blame on their minor child.
D4vd's preliminary hearing is over after five days of testimony ... with the judge ordering the murder case of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas to proceed to trial.
The judge said the trial must begin within 90 days ... D4vd is due back in court for arraignment August 31.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochmansaid after the hearing ended that the singer is eligible for the death penalty -- and they are currently weighing whether or not the death penalty will be pursued.
