Gabriela “Gabbie” Gonzalez is a social media influencer accused of conspiring with her father and then-boyfriend to hire a killer to murder singer Jack Avery, the former Why Don’t We member with whom she shares a daughter.
Los Angeles County prosecutors allege the plot developed during a bitter custody dispute and involved attempts to locate a hitman through the dark web, $14,000 in payments, cryptocurrency and discussions about disguising Avery’s death as an accident. An undercover law-enforcement officer eventually posed as a hitman during the investigation.
Gonzalez, her father Francisco Gonzalez and her former boyfriend Kai Faron Cordrey each face attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder charges. All three pleaded not guilty on September 14, 2026.
The accusations have not been proven in court.
What Is Gabbie Gonzalez Charged With?
Gonzalez faces three felony charges in Los Angeles County: attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder. Her father, Francisco Gonzalez, and former boyfriend Kai Faron Cordrey face the same three charges. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
The criminal case is Los Angeles County Superior Court case 26CJCF03024. Prosecutors say each defendant could face 25 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
The charges are allegations. Gonzalez and her co-defendants are presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove their guilt in court.
Gabbie Gonzalez Pleaded Not Guilty
Gonzalez, Francisco Gonzalez and Cordrey formally pleaded not guilty during a September 14, 2026 arraignment in Los Angeles. All three appeared before Superior Court Judge Louis T. Parise Jr. and waived a formal reading of the charges. [Court TV] [Rolling Stone]
The defendants are scheduled to return to court on November 18 for a preliminary hearing. [Court TV]
The September arraignment was an important development because Gonzalez’s plea had been delayed multiple times while her attorney reviewed evidence provided by prosecutors. [CBS Los Angeles]
Who Was The Alleged Target?
Prosecutors say the alleged murder-for-hire plot targeted Jack Avery, a singer and former member of the boy band Why Don’t We. Gonzalez and Avery share a daughter who was seven years old when the criminal charges were filed in May 2026. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Authorities say Gonzalez and Avery were involved in a lengthy custody and visitation dispute when the alleged murder plot developed. [ABC News]
The District Attorney’s Office alleges that between 2020 and 2021 Gonzalez sought Cordrey’s assistance in finding someone through the dark web to kill Avery. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Prosecutors Say Gonzalez Repeatedly Talked About Wanting Jack Avery Dead
Court filings allege Gonzalez repeatedly discussed wanting Avery killed during the custody dispute. ABC News reported from the arrest-warrant materials that a witness told investigators Gonzalez repeatedly said she wanted Avery dead and discussed hiring a hitman. [ABC News]
Prosecutors allege Gonzalez and Cordrey discussed using the dark web and Bitcoin to arrange the killing. They also allegedly discussed making Avery’s death appear to be an accident. [SFGATE]
The Los Angeles Times reported that prosecutors accuse Gonzalez of portraying Avery as an unfit and dangerous parent during the custody proceedings before the alleged scheme escalated into discussions about killing him. [Los Angeles Times]
Prosecutors Say The Killing Could Have Been Staged As An Accident
Investigators allege Gonzalez and Cordrey discussed methods that could disguise Avery’s death as an accident. Court records reviewed by ABC News say the intended killing was discussed as potentially occurring in Los Angeles and appearing to be a car accident. [ABC News]
WFTV reported that investigators accused Gonzalez and her father of discussing an arrangement in which Avery could be struck by a vehicle. [WFTV]
Later communications allegedly became less specific about the method. Prosecutors say Cordrey told the purported murder-for-hire service that Avery could be killed by whichever method was easiest, including a shooting or staged accident. [SFGATE]
Why Is Gabbie Gonzalez’s Father Charged?
Prosecutors accuse Francisco Gonzalez, a Florida attorney, of financing the alleged murder-for-hire operation. The Los Angeles County District Attorney says he sent Cordrey $10,000 in April 2021 as upfront money to locate, hire and pay someone to kill Avery. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Two months later, prosecutors say Cordrey requested additional money after the supposed hitman demanded another payment. Francisco Gonzalez allegedly sent another $4,000. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
The Los Angeles Times reported that the $14,000 ultimately was transferred for the alleged scheme while Cordrey used cryptocurrency and a dark-web account. [Los Angeles Times]
Investigators also allege Francisco Gonzalez had become heavily involved in his daughter’s custody dispute with Avery and hired a private investigator to follow Avery and search for information that could be used against him. [Court TV]
Who Is Kai Faron Cordrey?
Kai Faron Cordrey was Gonzalez’s boyfriend during the period of the alleged plot and is accused of trying to locate the person who would carry out the killing. Prosecutors say Gonzalez asked Cordrey to help find a hitman using the dark web. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Court filings allege Cordrey created or used a dark-web murder-for-hire account under the username “LizardKing69.” [SFGATE]
Prosecutors say Cordrey identified Avery as the target, provided an address associated with him and communicated about how quickly the killing could occur. [Los Angeles Times]
Cordrey is also charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
The Alleged Hitman Was An Undercover Law-Enforcement Officer
The alleged scheme eventually brought Cordrey into contact with an undercover officer posing as a professional killer. The Los Angeles County District Attorney says the undercover officer spoke with Cordrey in September 2021 about the alleged plot. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Prosecutors say Cordrey identified Avery as the target and discussed both payment and the type of evidence that would prove Avery had been killed. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
During a later conversation, Cordrey allegedly told the undercover officer that Gonzalez wanted the killing carried out and that her father could provide the money. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the case grew out of a lengthy FBI investigation that was eventually turned over to Los Angeles County prosecutors. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Prosecutors Say The Alleged Plot Asked For A Severed Finger As Proof Of Death
Prosecutors have alleged that the people arranging the killing discussed obtaining part of Avery’s finger as proof that he had been killed. During an early court hearing, prosecutors said the purported killer was asked to provide a severed pinky finger as evidence of Avery’s death. [People]
Reporting on the allegation said the request involved a finger still carrying jewelry that could help establish it belonged to Avery. [People]
This claim comes from prosecutors and has not been proven at trial.
How Much Money Was Allegedly Paid For The Hit?
Prosecutors allege Francisco Gonzalez provided a total of approximately $14,000. The first payment was $10,000 in April 2021. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
After the supposed hitman requested more money, Cordrey allegedly received another $4,000 approximately two months later. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Court filings say Cordrey moved funds into a Gemini cryptocurrency account and used cryptocurrency in connection with the dark-web murder-for-hire account. [WFTV]
SFGATE reported that some of the payments were routed through Cordrey’s business and were allegedly disguised as web-development expenses. [SFGATE]
Prosecutors Say Cordrey Wanted Avery Killed Quickly
The alleged communications show increasing urgency as the scheme progressed. After receiving the additional $4,000, prosecutors say Cordrey asked that Avery be killed within a matter of days. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
SFGATE reported that Cordrey allegedly told the dark-web service the killing could happen “within two days” and did not have to be carried out in a particular manner. [SFGATE]
The alleged communications are part of the prosecution’s argument that the case progressed beyond mere discussion into concrete steps toward carrying out a killing.
Prosecutors Say There Were Earlier Efforts To Intimidate Avery
The criminal filings describe alleged efforts to remove Avery from Gonzalez’s daughter’s life before the dark-web plot. SFGATE reported that prosecutors accuse Gonzalez and Cordrey of attempting to recruit a man in Hawaii to threaten, frighten or force Avery off the island of Kauai. [SFGATE]
Court TV reported that Francisco Gonzalez also hired a private investigator to follow Avery and search for information that could be used during the custody dispute. [Court TV]
Prosecutors have characterized the alleged conduct as escalating from family-court litigation and surveillance toward an alleged attempt to permanently remove Avery through murder. [Rolling Stone]
When Was Gabbie Gonzalez Arrested?
Gonzalez was arrested at California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport in McKinleyville in May 2026. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office told SFGATE that deputies assisted Los Angeles County authorities and took Gonzalez into custody without incident. [SFGATE]
She initially spent time in Humboldt County custody before being transferred to Los Angeles. [SFGATE]
Formal criminal charges against Gonzalez, her father and Cordrey were announced on May 19. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Gabbie Gonzalez Posted $2 Million Bail
A Los Angeles judge initially set Gonzalez’s bail at $2 million. ABC News reported that she subsequently posted bond and was released subject to conditions including GPS monitoring. [ABC News]
The court initially imposed restrictions on Gonzalez discussing the case on social media. Her attorney, Elliot Zarabi, argued she should generally remain free to use her social-media accounts as long as she did not make threats. [ABC News]
By the September 14 arraignment, all three defendants were appearing in court while out of custody under varying release conditions. [Rolling Stone]
Francisco Gonzalez Is On House Arrest
Francisco Gonzalez’s release conditions include home confinement and GPS monitoring. During the September 14 arraignment, his attorney asked for permission for him to leave home to attend church on Sundays. [Court TV]
Judge Parise granted the request over prosecutors’ objections. The judge said Gonzalez’s GPS monitor would allow authorities to determine whether he traveled anywhere other than the approved location. [Court TV]
Francisco Gonzalez is a Florida lawyer whose alleged financing of the purported hit is central to the prosecution’s case.
What Has Jack Avery Said About The Alleged Plot?
Avery says the FBI warned him years before the arrests that someone had hired a person to kill him. During a 2025 interview with the Zach Sang Show, Avery said two FBI agents appeared at his residence and informed him of the threat. [ABC News]
Avery said the experience traumatized him and that he was afraid to leave his home for approximately a month. [ABC News]
After the defendants were charged in May 2026, Avery publicly thanked law enforcement, his family and supporters. He said his primary focus was providing a safe and stable environment for his daughter. [ABC News]
Jack Avery Says He Now Has Sole Custody Of Their Daughter
After Gonzalez’s arrest, Avery said he had obtained sole custody of the daughter he shares with Gonzalez. In a public statement, he said their daughter was safe, healthy and loved. [ABC News]
Avery also pursued a restraining order against Gonzalez and sought sole legal and physical custody following the arrests. [WFTV]
The family-court proceedings are separate from the criminal prosecution.
Who Is Gabbie Gonzalez?
Gabriela Lauren Gonzalez, known online as Gabbie Gonzalez, is a social media influencer whose content has included lifestyle, travel and motherhood posts. Before her arrest, she had a large audience across TikTok and Instagram. [ABC News]
The Los Angeles County District Attorney identifies her date of birth as September 6, 2001. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
Gonzalez previously had a relationship with Avery, and the two became parents before later becoming involved in the custody dispute that prosecutors say formed the backdrop of the alleged plot.
Who Is Jack Avery?
Jack Avery is a singer and songwriter who became famous as a member of Why Don’t We. The group formed in 2016 and developed a substantial young fan base before later becoming involved in legal disputes surrounding its management and name.
Avery continued releasing music following Why Don’t We’s hiatus and later disputes involving the group. His connection to Gonzalez became the subject of national news coverage after prosecutors accused her and two others of trying to arrange his murder. [AP]
Why Did The Case Take Years To Produce Arrests?
The alleged plot dates largely to 2020 and 2021, but charges were not filed until May 2026. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the matter as a lengthy investigation initially conducted by the FBI before being turned over to his office. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
The case involves records and alleged conduct across several jurisdictions, including California, Hawaii and Florida, along with cryptocurrency transactions and undercover law-enforcement activity.
The District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate the case. [Los Angeles County District Attorney]
What Happens Next In The Gabbie Gonzalez Case?
The next scheduled major court proceeding is a preliminary hearing on November 18, 2026. Judge Parise ordered Gonzalez, Francisco Gonzalez and Cordrey to return on that date after all three entered not-guilty pleas. [Court TV]
A preliminary hearing allows prosecutors to present evidence supporting the charges and asks a judge to determine whether sufficient evidence exists for the defendants to proceed toward trial.
No trial date has been announced.
Gonzalez, her father and Cordrey continue to deny the charges through their not-guilty pleas, and none has been convicted.
One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.