Celeste Rivas’ family marked a heartbreaking milestone Monday, remembering the teenager on what would have been her 16th birthday.
Rivas was 14 when her dismembered body was discovered one year ago. A medical examiner later concluded she had been killed in April 2025. Singer D4vd has been charged in connection with her murder and is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to all charges.
In a statement provided to TMZ through attorney Patrick Steinfeld on September 7, Rivas’ relatives said: “Today we are experiencing so many emotions.”
The family said they planned to honor Rivas by praying, singing Happy Birthday and sharing memories of the young girl they continue to mourn.
They described the grief surrounding the day as “feelings only a mother, father, and siblings can truly understand.”
Rivas’ loved ones, who recently voiced support for the death penalty for D4vd, said they were facing the day with heavy hearts and would “always remember every moment and every good time” they shared with “Celestita.”
Celeste Rivas’ family remembered her Monday on what would have been her 16th birthday
Rivas’ family told TMZ in a September 7 statement shared through attorney Patrick Steinfeld: “Today we are experiencing so many emotions”
The outlet reported that flowers, balloons and toys were placed on Rivas’s grave in Los Angeles to honor her milestone birthday.
It comes after her family said they support the death penalty for D4vd, 21, if he is convicted of her murder.
Her family said in a statement to the New York Post: ‘If the death penalty were activated, it would be perfect for this kind of human being, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside, and without conscience, who only caused pain to our daughter, our family, and the world that supports our precious daughter.
‘But that’s not in our hands, but rather in God’s, and the California justice system.’
The decision of whether to implement the death penalty will be made by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
The music artist, real name David Burke, has pleaded not guilty to Rivas’s murder, as well as charges of child sex abuse and mutilation in connection with her death.
His attorneys withdrew from his case last week, with Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter telling the judge overseeing the trial that they could no longer represent the singer.
‘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,’ they said in a statement to TMZ.
Singer D4vd has been charged with Rivas’s murder and is currently awaiting trial; pictured in March 2025
Rivas’s father Jesus (L) and attorney Patrick Steinfeld (R) pictured in March
The 14-year-old girl’s body was found dismembered one year ago, with a medical examiner later determining she was killed in April 2025; a memorial pictured outside of Rivas’s Lake Elsinore home in April 2026
‘We continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges,’ the lawyers continued.
‘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.’
In a statement to the LA Times, LA County Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel said: ‘We recognize the loss of life underlying the allegations and extend our sympathies to those who are grieving.
‘At the same time, David Burke is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence. We are committed to providing him with that defense.’
Police say the vehicle where Rovas’s remains were found in a tow yard was registered to D4vd’s address in Texas.
The star was named a suspect in her killing in November 2025, and arrested in April 2026.
