Celeste Rivas' Family Holding On as D4vd Murder Trial Nears

As the machinery of the justice system grinds forward, the family of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas is enduring what prosecutor Beth Silverman described simply as doing“as well as possible”— a measured phrase that carries the weight of unimaginable loss. During a brief status hearing on Tuesday in the case against D4vd, Silverman offered what little reassurance she could when asked about Celeste’s loved ones, keeping details private while the legal process continues its march toward trial.

The hearing itself was procedural and lean, lasting only minutes. The two sides addressed technical matters, including approval for an additional defense attorney to sit at counsel table. The judge also noted that any motion regarding D4vd being shackled in the courtroom would need to be submitted in writing before the upcoming preliminary hearing — a detail that underscores the meticulous nature of capital murder proceedings.

The stakes in this case remain staggering. D4vd was arrested and booked in April on charges of first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors allege that he murdered Celeste in April 2025 after she threatened to expose their sexual relationship and damage his music career. According to prosecutors, D4vd invited her to his home, murdered her, dismembered her body, and stuffed it into bags. Celeste’s decomposed and dismembered remains were later discovered in his Tesla.

The alleged premeditation chills — investigators say D4vd purchased multiple items online afterward, including two chainsaws, a body bag, and a burn cage, a portable outdoor incinerator. Prosecutors have also indicated they found what they described as a significant amount of child pornography on his phone. These details paint a picture prosecutors will use to argue this wasn’t a crime of passion but a calculated act to silence a teenager who threatened his reputation.

What comes next is the preliminary hearing, where evidence will be presented and the defense will have its chance to challenge the state’s case. For Celeste’s family, the long wait for answers and accountability continues — each court date a reminder of what was taken from them, and what justice might eventually look like remains a question Silverman declined to answer.