Prosecutors say Burke dismembered teen to conceal sexual relationship
In a statement released through their attorney on Monday, Celeste’s family demanded that Burke be subjected to execution. “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,” the family said. A separate statement from the family said they were “reliving unforgettable moments even though she is no longer here” and “experiencing so many emotions.”
Celeste was last seen on April 23, 2025, according to court documents. Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed her several times and mortally wounded her after she went to his home. Her dismembered body was found in the front trunk of his Tesla in a Los Angeles tow yard on September 8, 2025; the car had been towed away after being left on a street near Burke’s home.
Burke, now 21, began his music career by uploading montages of the video game Fortnite. He was arrested in April 2026 and charged with multiple crimes, including first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and mutilating a body. In July, a judge ordered him to stand trial. The most serious charge carries a potential death penalty.
During a preliminary hearing in July, prosecutors said Burke met Celeste when she was 11 and began sexually abusing her when she was 13 and he was 18. The pair exchanged messages about a pregnancy a year before her death — she assured him the baby was his — and that she had an abortion, prosecutors said. The hearing also included the submission of photos of the two kissing and lying in bed. One picture showed that she had “David” tattooed in red ink on a finger — one of two fingers that had been cut off when her body was found.
Burke’s defense has argued there is no evidence that he had any intent to kill Celeste and that no witnesses or cameras captured her entering his house in the timeframe he is alleged to have killed her. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The case has also seen changes to Burke’s legal representation. His high-profile lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter withdrew from the case in late August. No reasons were given for the withdrawal. They were replaced by a lawyer from the Los Angeles County public defender’s office. Burke has been ordered held without bail, and a trial date has yet to be set.