Overview
- On Monday the teen’s parents filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court naming David Anthony Burke, his companies, managers, his mother and a live‑in security guard as defendants.
- The family released a statement on what would have been Celeste’s 16th birthday saying they support the death penalty if Burke is convicted.
- Burke remains jailed without bail, has pleaded not guilty to charges that include capital murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child and unlawful mutilation of human remains, and a judge ordered him to stand trial after a five‑day preliminary hearing in July.
- Prosecutors presented digital and forensic evidence at the hearing, including thousands of sexual texts, purchase records for chainsaws and a body bag, medical examiner testimony linking chainsaw pieces and blood to the victim, and other items investigators say tie Burke to the killing and dismemberment.
- District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not decided whether to seek the death penalty, and the outcome would be affected by California’s long pause on executions and a 2019 moratorium on carrying out death sentences.