Influencer Gabbie Gonzalez and Father Charged in Murder Plot

TikTok influencer Gabbie Gonzalez has been released on $2 million bail following her arrest on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder [1]. Prosecutors allege that Gonzalez, her father Francisco Gonzalez, and her former boyfriend Kai Faron Cordrey orchestrated a plot to kill musician and boy band alum Jack Avery to resolve an ongoing custody battle over their 7-year-old daughter [1, 3].

Key takeaways

• Gabbie Gonzalez, her father Francisco, and former boyfriend Kai Cordrey are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder [1, 3].
• Prosecutors claim the plot was intended to end a custody dispute involving the defendants and Jack Avery [1, 2].
• The alleged scheme was thwarted after the suspects unknowingly communicated with an undercover FBI agent posing as a hit man [1, 3].
• Gabbie Gonzalez has been ordered to wear a GPS monitor and maintain a 100-yard distance from Avery and their daughter [1].
• If convicted, the defendants could face sentences of 25 years to life in prison [3].

The alleged murder-for-hire scheme

According to court filings, the plot began as early as 2020, with prosecutors alleging that Gabbie Gonzalez repeatedly expressed a desire for Avery to be killed [1, 2]. Investigators claim that Francisco Gonzalez became deeply involved in the custody conflict, allegedly funding the operation by sending $10,000 to Cordrey to locate and hire a killer [1]. Further financial transfers, including cryptocurrency payments and invoices, were allegedly made by Francisco to facilitate the plan [2, 3].

The investigation, which was initiated by the FBI, revealed that the suspects allegedly discussed using the dark web to carry out the murder, with some plans involving staging the death as a car accident [2, 3]. In September 2021, Cordrey reportedly spoke with an undercover FBI agent, identifying Avery as the target and requesting proof of death [1, 3]. Prosecutors allege that Cordrey specifically requested the victim's finger with his jewelry still on it [1].

Legal proceedings and custody status

Following the arrests, Jack Avery broke his silence on social media, stating that he had been warned by the FBI about the threat to his life [2, 3]. Avery noted that he has maintained full custody of his daughter, Lavender, and expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their support during the investigation [3].

Gabbie Gonzalez and Cordrey made their initial court appearances on May 21, with arraignments scheduled for July 23 [3]. Francisco Gonzalez was arrested in Florida and is awaiting extradition to California [2, 3]. As of the latest reports, it remains unclear if the defendants have retained legal counsel [2, 3].

Why it matters

The case highlights the severe intersection of private family disputes and criminal law, with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman characterizing the allegations as a "sinister" escalation of a custody conflict [3]. The legal process is now focused on the upcoming arraignments and the extradition of Francisco Gonzalez. For Avery, the focus remains on his daughter and the transition to a stable life following the conclusion of the federal investigation [3].