Crime

Influencer, Dad, Ex Charged in Murder-for-Hire Plot Against Boy Band Singer

TikTok star, lawyer father, and ex-boyfriend accused in alleged scheme to kill Jack Avery.

By The Unbiased Times AI

May 20, 2026 • 3:44 AM• Updated May 20, 2026 • 7:30 AM

Bias Check:

45% bias removed from 3 sources

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45%

A TikTok influencer, her lawyer father, and her ex-boyfriend have been charged in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Jack Avery, a former member of the boy band Why Don’t We and the father of their 7-year-old daughter. The charges include conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and solicitation for murder, according to court documents obtained by multiple outlets.

Core Facts and Developments
Gabriela "Gabbie" Lauren Gonzalez, 24, was arrested in Los Angeles on Friday, while her father, Francisco Gonzalez, 59, a Miami attorney, was arrested in Florida on Monday. Kai Faron Cordrey, 26, a Hawaii-based surf instructor and Gabbie’s ex-boyfriend, was also charged. Prosecutors allege the trio plotted to kill Avery amid a custody dispute, with Francisco Gonzalez allegedly enlisting a private investigator to surveil Avery and gather evidence to portray him as an unfit parent.

Deeper Dive and Context
Background of the Custody Battle
The alleged plot dates back to 2021, during a longstanding custody and visitation dispute between Avery and Gabriela Gonzalez. Avery, now seeking full custody, claims Gabriela is unstable and poses a risk to their daughter. Court documents reveal that Gabriela allegedly discussed wanting Avery dead in March 2021, prompting her father to recruit Cordrey to threaten or harass Avery.

The Alleged Murder Plot
Prosecutors allege that the group settled on hiring Dustin Barca, a retired MMA fighter, to carry out the plot, though Barca was not accused of any wrongdoing. The scheme reportedly involved a $10,000 payment to stage Avery’s death as a car accident. The FBI intercepted the plot, and Avery was not in danger, according to sources.

Social Media and Public Persona
Gabriela Gonzalez, who has over 400,000 Instagram followers and a significant TikTok audience, shared family moments and milestones with her daughter online. Many posts involving Avery have since been deleted. Avery and Gabriela began dating in 2018, and she gave birth to their daughter at age 17.

Legal and Investigative Details
Francisco Gonzalez was held without bond, while Gabriela and Cordrey await further legal proceedings. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed the felony complaint, and the FBI is involved in the investigation. Avery has also sought a restraining order against Gabriela.

Narrative Analysis

How different sources frame this story

Focus on Custody Battle and Parental Instability

Sources: dailymail.co.uk · yahoo.com

Focus

The central theme prioritizes the custody battle and Gabriela Gonzalez's alleged instability as a parent, framing the murder plot as an escalation of the dispute.

Evidence Subset

The evidence subset includes Gabriela's alleged discussions about wanting Avery dead, the private investigator's surveillance, and Avery's claims of her instability.

Silhouette (Omissions)

This narrative omits or downplays the role of the dark web and the specific details of the alleged murder plot, focusing more on the custody battle.

Emphasis on the Murder-for-Hire Scheme

Sources: latimes.com

Focus

The central theme prioritizes the murder-for-hire plot, emphasizing the alleged involvement of the dark web and the recruitment of a retired MMA fighter.

Evidence Subset

The evidence subset includes the $10,000 payment, the FBI's interception of the plot, and the involvement of Dustin Barca.

Silhouette (Omissions)

This narrative omits or downplays the custody battle and Gabriela's social media presence, focusing more on the criminal aspects of the case.

Cross-Narrative Analysis

How the narratives compare

The most important differences between the narratives are the emphasis on the custody battle versus the murder-for-hire scheme. A reader of only one silo would miss either the depth of the custody dispute or the specifics of the alleged criminal plot.

This analysis identifies how media sources emphasize different aspects of the same story. No narrative is labeled as more accurate than others.

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