The social media influencer known for her candid motherhood content and relationship advice is now facing life in prison, accused of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot against the father of her child, with prosecutors alleging her own father funded the scheme using cryptocurrency payments routed through the dark web.
Gabriella “Gabby” Gonzalez, 24, who amassed nearly a million followers across TikTok and Instagram by documenting her life as a single mother, was arrested on May 15th, 2026, in Humboldt County, California, as she attempted to board a flight. She was subsequently transferred to Los Angeles County and booked on felony charges of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and solicitation of murder. The charges stem from an alleged plot targeting 26-year-old Jack Avery, a former member of the boy band Why Don’t We, with whom Gonzalez shares a seven-year-old daughter.
The arrest culminated a five-year investigation that began as a bitter custody dispute and, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, escalated into a chilling conspiracy. Prosecutors allege that Gonzalez’s father, 59-year-old Francisco Gonzalez, a civil attorney in the Miami area, served as the financial architect of the plan. The investigation revealed a trail of coded messages, cryptocurrency transfers, and undercover recordings that paint a picture of a family determined to eliminate Avery from their lives permanently.
According to court documents, the custody battle between Gonzalez and Avery was exceptionally contentious. Investigators allege that Francisco Gonzalez hired a private investigator to surveil Avery in Hawaii, seeking any compromising material to use against him in court. The surveillance, documented in text messages, was a precursor to more sinister actions.
In March 2021, Francisco allegedly wrote in a family group chat, “Call Barca, never too early,” which investigators believe was a reference to Dustin Barca, a professional MMA fighter, in an attempt to recruit him to threaten Avery.
The alleged plot escalated from intimidation to murder-for-hire in the spring of 2021. Prosecutors say Francisco wired $10,000 to Kai Cordry, Gabby’s then-boyfriend, disguising the payment as a fee for web development services. Cordry, who ran a business called Whisperer, allegedly transferred the funds into a Gemini cryptocurrency account and began searching the dark web under the alias “Lizard King 69.”
He found a murder-for-hire site and initiated contact with an individual he believed was a hitman.
On May 22nd, 2021, Cordry allegedly identified Avery as the target, providing his Los Angeles address and specifying that the killing should be done by “whatever method is easiest.” The site administrator requested an additional $4,000 for an “expert hitman” to ensure a clean job. In June 2021, Francisco allegedly sent another $4,000 payment, bringing the total to $14,000.
The plan, however, had a fatal flaw: the purported hitman was an undercover law enforcement agent.
The FBI intervened in September 2021, and Cordry began cooperating, providing investigators with a detailed account of the plot. He identified the target, the payments, and the individuals involved. Most disturbingly, prosecutors allege that Gabby Gonzalez requested proof that the job was completed, specifically demanding that Avery’s pinky finger be severed as confirmation.
The FBI also reviewed communications between the undercover agent and an individual identified as “Fran G,” linked to Francisco’s phone number, which included the code word “bull run” and discussions about verifying the target and arranging final payment.
Despite the evidence gathered, federal prosecutors declined to file charges, and the case was handed over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the DA’s office. The investigation continued for years, with subpoenas, search warrants, and electronic evidence analysis. During this time, Avery was unaware of the specific threat against him until September 2025, when FBI agents warned him that someone was trying to have him killed.
He told a podcaster that he stayed home for months, too terrified to leave his house.
The arrests finally came in May 2026. Body camera footage from Seminole County, Florida, shows deputies waiting outside Francisco Gonzalez’s home to take him into custody. He waived extradition and was transported to California.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges on May 19th, stating, “Most fathers raise their children to respect the law, but here we have a dad who allegedly helped his daughter and her boyfriend break the law in the most sinister way imaginable.” All three defendants face 25 years to life in state prison if convicted.
Gabby Gonzalez posted a $2 million bail and was released under strict conditions, including wearing a GPS monitor and having no contact with Avery or their daughter. Francisco Gonzalez was initially denied bail but was later allowed to post a $2 million bond under house arrest. Kai Cordry’s bail was reduced from $2 million to $100,000 after his attorney argued he was a plumber’s apprentice living paycheck to paycheck.
The day after the arrests were announced, Jack Avery filed an emergency restraining order against Gabby and requested sole legal and physical custody of their daughter, which the judge granted. In his filing, Avery wrote, “Gabriella attempted to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 me by hiring a hitman. Gabriella is not stable and not able to act in the best interest of our daughter.”
He also revealed that after Gabby’s arrest, their daughter was temporarily placed with a foster family in Northern California before he could fly to retrieve her. Avery broke his silence publicly with an Instagram statement, saying, “A few days ago, three individuals were arrested in connection with an alleged plot to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 me. One of those individuals is the mother of my daughter.”
The legal proceedings have been marked by delays. At a July 23rd, 2026, hearing, defense attorneys requested more time to review the extensive discovery, which includes a large hard drive of evidence. The prosecutor objected, noting the case had been pending for months and that the people had an interest in moving it along.
The judge sided with the defense, continuing the arraignment to September 14th, 2026. All three defendants remain out on bond pending their formal pleas.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the stark contrast between Gabby Gonzalez’s public persona and the alleged crime. She built her brand on relatable motherhood, discussing topics like free bleeding and the struggles of single parenthood. Days before her arrest, she posted a video stating, “Men don’t change.
They are who they are.” The irony is not lost on prosecutors, who allege she wanted to change Avery from alive to dead. As the case moves toward trial, the question remains whether the extensive digital evidence, including dark web communications and cryptocurrency transactions, will be enough to convict all three defendants.
Legal experts anticipate a significant amount of finger-pointing among the co-conspirators as they seek to minimize their own culpability.