In a case that blends social media fame, family ties, and a bitter custody battle, a popular TikTok influencer, her father, and her boyfriend now face serious criminal charges in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme.
Gabriela Lauren Gonzalez, better known online as Gabbie Gonzalez, has built a sizable online audience with nearly half a million TikTok followers through videos centered on cooking, dancing, lifestyle content, and glamorous travel moments. Her social media persona often portrayed a carefree image, with posts featuring tropical scenery, colorful bikinis, and captions describing herself as a "lover of life" and a "mermaid at heart."
Prosecutors now allege that behind the scenes, she became involved in a years-long conspiracy tied to a bitter custody battle over her seven-year-old daughter.
And now, the -24-year-old woman has been charged alongside her father, 59-year-old Florida civil trial lawyer Francisco Javier Gonzalez and her ex-boyfriend Kai Faron Cordrey in an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting singer Jack Avery, a former member of the boy band Why Don't We and the father of her child.
The roots of the alleged conspiracy trace back to 2020 and 2021 when Gonzalez and Avery became locked in a heated and tense custody battle over their young daughter.
According to prosecutors the conflict grew increasingly acrimonious with Gonzalez turning to her father for support that went far beyond typical parental guidance.
Francisco Gonzalez, a personal injury attorney based in Central Florida, reportedly became deeply involved in the dispute. Authorities claim he even hired a private investigator to surveil Avery in hopes of uncovering evidence such as drinking or smoking that could be used against him in family court.
Witnesses told investigators that Francisco allegedly threatened to have Avery arrested if he showed up for visitation and attempted to leverage law enforcement contacts. Avery later described living in constant fear during that period saying he stayed inside his home for an entire month straight and found himself anxiously looking out the window every night.
Prosecutors allege that during this time Gabriela Gonzalez sought help from her then-boyfriend Kai Faron Cordrey to find someone on the dark web who could carry out the killing of Avery, with payment using Bitcoin.
The plan reportedly involved paying a hitman to eliminate Avery by whatever method proved easiest including a shooting or staging an accident.
In April 2021 Francisco Gonzalez allegedly wired ten thousand dollars to Cordrey under the pretense of payment for web development work with the funds intended as front money to locate hire and compensate the supposed assassin from the dark web.
Two months later in June 2021 Cordrey requested and received an additional four thousand dollars after claiming the hitman needed more money to proceed. Several days after that second payment Cordrey pushed for the murder to happen within just a couple of days.
The scheme unraveled when Cordrey began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as the hired killer.
In those exchanges Cordrey identified Jack Avery as the target discussed payment arrangements and specifically requested proof of death once the act was completed. He also told the undercover agent that Gabriela Gonzalez wanted the murder to happen and that her father would cover the costs. The FBI launched the investigation into the plot which was eventually turned over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in a website post, prosecutors formally charged all three individuals with one count each of attempted murder conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder. If convicted they could each face up to twenty-five years to life in state prison.
Gabriela Gonzalez was arrested last week in Northern California specifically in Humboldt County where she was taken into custody at or near the California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport.
She is currently being held in Los Angeles County either without bail or on a high bail amount depending on the latest court records.
Her father Francisco Javier Gonzalez was arrested on Monday May 18 2026 in Lake Mary Florida on a California warrant. During his initial court appearance in Seminole County his attorney indicated that he plans to waive extradition and return to California to face the charges.
Kai Faron Cordrey who is twenty-six years old has also been charged though reports indicate he has yet to be detained and his current status remains unclear.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman commented on the unusual nature of the case, stating that while most fathers teach their children to obey the law, this case alleges a father helped orchestrate an extraordinarily violent crime involving his daughter and her boyfriend.
Following the arrests, Avery released a public statement saying he and his family had endured years of "false accusations" and "painful attacks" on their reputation. He explained that he largely stayed silent throughout the legal battle to protect his daughter and respect the judicial process. Avery added that his primary focus remains raising his daughter, who he said is "safe, healthy, and deeply loved."
He has since reportedly filed for a restraining order against Gonzalez.
The case has drawn widespread attention not only because of the serious allegations, but because it involves a social media influencer whose online image centered around positivity, family moments, and lifestyle content. Prosecutors allege the custody battle between Gonzalez and Avery deteriorated so severely that it eventually crossed into criminal territory, culminating in a multi-year federal investigation.
Authorities emphasize that all three defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.