A SHOCKING CRIMINAL CASE EMERGES FROM A HIGH-STAKES CUSTODY BATTLE

A widening criminal investigation has pulled a social media influencer, her father, and a former boy band star into a disturbing alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy that authorities say was driven by a bitter custody dispute and escalating personal conflict.

TikTok influencer Gabbie Gonzalez is expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles County on Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Law enforcement sources say the allegations center on a plot targeting her ex-partner, former Why Don’t We member Jack Avery, the father of her 7-year-old daughter, Lavender.

Authorities also confirmed a second arrest tied to the case. Gonzalez’s father, Francisco Gonzalez, was taken into custody Monday in Florida and booked on the same charge, deepening what investigators describe as a coordinated and long-running alleged scheme.

A CUSTODY BATTLE TURNED CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the case stems from an increasingly hostile custody dispute between Gabbie Gonzalez and Jack Avery over their young daughter.

Investigators say tensions inside that dispute escalated over time and eventually drew in family members, including Gonzalez’s father, Francisco, who authorities now allege played a central role in developing and advancing the plan.

One witness told police that Francisco Gonzalez allegedly made a chilling statement during the dispute, saying it would be cheaper if Jack were dead.

That single alleged remark has become one of several key details now shaping the conspiracy case.

ARRESTS SPANNING MULTIPLE STATES AND A RAPID LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE

The arrests unfolded across multiple states, underscoring what authorities describe as a complex and coordinated investigation involving both local and federal law enforcement.

Gabbie Gonzalez was arrested last week in Humboldt County, California, while she was reportedly preparing to board a flight. She was later transferred to Los Angeles County, where she remains in custody without bail.

Her father, Francisco Gonzalez, was arrested separately in Florida on Monday. Officials say he has not yet been extradited to Los Angeles and remains in custody in Florida.

Investigators have not publicly disclosed every piece of evidence, but sources familiar with the case say law enforcement activity has been ongoing for an extended period.

FEDERAL SCRUTINY AND EARLY WARNING SIGNS

The case appears to have drawn federal attention months before the arrests became public.

In September, Jack Avery gave an interview in which he revealed that FBI agents had visited his home. According to that interview, agents informed him that someone was allegedly trying to have him killed.

At the time, Avery reportedly did not know about any alleged involvement by Gabbie Gonzalez. He even spoke positively about her, describing her as a good mother to their daughter.

That detail now stands in stark contrast to the allegations emerging from investigators.

AN ALLEGED PLAN YEARS IN THE MAKING

Authorities believe the alleged conspiracy did not begin recently. Instead, investigators say it may date back as far as 2021, when Francisco Gonzalez allegedly began laying groundwork to track and monitor Avery in Hawaii, where he resides.

According to investigators, the purpose of the alleged surveillance effort was to gather damaging material that could be used in custody proceedings. That included attempts to capture footage of Avery engaging in behavior such as smoking or drinking, which could potentially be used against him in court.

The case file reportedly includes a communication attributed to Francisco Gonzalez in which he wrote, "Call Barca ... never too early."

Law enforcement believes this message referred to an individual named Dustin Barca. Investigators say Gabbie Gonzalez and a friend, identified as Kai Cordrey, later attempted to recruit Barca to threaten Avery.

The alleged coordination between multiple individuals has become a key focus of the conspiracy investigation.

ALLEGED PAYMENTS AND A COVER STORY CLAIMED BY INVESTIGATORS

One of the most significant allegations involves financial transactions that investigators say were disguised to conceal their true purpose.

According to police sources, a witness told investigators that Gabbie Gonzalez said her father had electronically sent $10,000 to Kai on April 26, 2021. The payment was allegedly labeled as "web-development payments."

However, investigators later spoke with Kai Cordrey, who reportedly told law enforcement that no actual web development work was performed and that the explanation was a cover story.

Authorities believe this payment may have been part of the broader alleged conspiracy structure.

AN UNDERCOVER CALL THAT CHANGED THE CASE

The investigation escalated further when a federal agent reportedly conducted an undercover operation by posing as a hitman.

Using information provided by Kai Cordrey, the agent initiated a phone call with Francisco Gonzalez. During that conversation, investigators say Francisco discussed payments and made reference to the alleged target.

Law enforcement sources say this recorded interaction became a pivotal moment in the investigation, helping authorities connect financial activity, communications, and alleged intent into a single conspiracy narrative.

A SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE COLLIDING WITH A CRIMINAL CASE

Before the allegations, Gabbie Gonzalez built a substantial online presence through TikTok and other platforms. Her content focused heavily on lifestyle updates, travel videos, and day-to-day moments centered on motherhood and personal life.

That carefully curated public image now sits in sharp contrast to the serious criminal accusations she is facing.

Investigators say the case reflects how personal disputes can escalate far beyond private conflict when legal battles, custody tensions, and financial pressures collide.

A FAMILY DIVIDED AND A CASE STILL UNFOLDING

With Gabbie Gonzalez in custody in California and her father held in Florida awaiting possible extradition, the legal process is only beginning.

Authorities have not confirmed whether additional charges or arrests could follow, but sources indicate the investigation remains active and ongoing.

For now, the central allegations remain focused on conspiracy to commit murder tied to a custody dispute involving a child and a former pop music figure whose life, investigators say, became the target of a years-long alleged plot.

As the case moves toward arraignment and further court proceedings, prosecutors are expected to present more details about the alleged coordination, communications, and financial transactions that led to the arrests.

The outcome could determine not only the legal future of Gabbie Gonzalez and her father, but also reshape the narrative surrounding a custody battle that investigators say turned into something far more dangerous than a family dispute.