Summary (tl;dr)

TikTok influencer Gabbie Gonzalez and her father, Francisco Gonzalez, have been arrested and charged in an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting her ex-partner, singer Jack Avery, stemming from an ongoing custody dispute over their seven-year-old daughter.

Essential Background

Gabbie Gonzalez, a prominent TikTok influencer, and Jack Avery, a singer from the former boy band Why Don't We, share a seven-year-old daughter named Lavender. The former couple has been embroiled in an intense custody battle, which authorities allege escalated into a multi-year conspiracy to harm Avery. In September of last year, Avery reportedly informed FBI agents that someone was attempting to hire a hitman to kill him.

The Full Story

Gabbie Gonzalez was arrested last week in Humboldt County, California, and subsequently transferred to Los Angeles County, where she was formally charged with three criminal counts, including conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and solicitation of murder. Her father, Francisco Gonzalez, a lawyer, was arrested separately in Seminole County, Florida, in connection with the same alleged plot. Court documents indicate the alleged scheme began in March 2021 when Gabbie and her friend, Kai Cordrey, reportedly attempted to involve former MMA fighter Dustin Barca to threaten Avery in Kauai, Hawaii; Barca was not charged. Prosecutors further allege that the plan escalated to searching for a hitman on the dark web, with discussions of staging Avery's death to appear as a car accident. Following the arrests, Jack Avery filed for a temporary restraining order against Gabbie Gonzalez and requested sole legal and physical custody of their daughter, which a judge granted. Gabbie Gonzalez is currently being held on a $2 million bail, while her father awaits extradition from Florida.

Why It Matters

This case has drawn significant public attention due to the involvement of social media personalities and a former boy band member, highlighting the dark potential consequences of acrimonious custody disputes. The severity of the charges, which include attempted murder, conspiracy, and solicitation of murder, underscores the serious legal implications for those involved. The ongoing legal proceedings, including Jack Avery's efforts to secure sole custody and a restraining order, reflect the profound impact of these allegations on the family.

Geographic Location

• Humboldt County, California, United States (Gabbie Gonzalez's arrest while boarding a flight)
• Los Angeles County, California, United States (Gabbie Gonzalez's transfer to jail and court appearances; alleged location for staged car accident)
• Seminole County, Florida, United States (Francisco Gonzalez's arrest and detention)
• Kauai, Hawaii, United States (Location where Dustin Barca was allegedly approached to threaten Jack Avery)