TikTok influencer Gabbie Gonzalez faces felony conspiracy to commit murder charges after authorities say she and her father plotted to hire a hitman to kill singer Jack Avery, the father of their seven-year-old daughter.
Gonzalez, 24, was arrested last week in Humboldt County, Northern California, as she attempted to board a flight. She was later transferred to Los Angeles County Jail, where she remains held without bail. Her father, Francisco Gonzalez, was arrested Monday in Florida on the same charge. Gonzalez is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in Los Angeles County. The case centers on a long-running and bitter custody battle over their daughter, Lavender May Avery.
The couple began dating in 2018 and welcomed Lavender the following year before their relationship ended. Gonzalez built a large following on TikTok and Instagram with lifestyle, surfing, and motherhood content. Avery gained fame as a member of the boy band Why Don’t We. Over the years, their co-parenting arrangement involved significant friction, including disputes over visitation, living arrangements across states, and public allegations from both sides. A witness told investigators that Francisco Gonzalez once remarked it would be cheaper if Avery were dead, highlighting the depth of the animosity tied to the custody issues.
Authorities allege the plot dates back to at least 2021. It reportedly involved surveillance of Avery in Hawaii, where he lives, with efforts to photograph him in compromising situations such as smoking or drinking to use against him in court. Investigators say Gonzalez and a friend attempted to recruit a man named Dustin Barca to threaten Avery. An electronic payment of ten thousand dollars was made to another associate, Kai Cordrey, in April 2021 under the cover of web-development services, though Cordrey later told police no such work was performed.
Gonzalez and her father allegedly got caught when law enforcement used information from Cordrey to have a federal agent pose as a hitman. During a recorded phone call, Francisco Gonzalez reportedly discussed target details and confirmed payments, sealing key evidence against them. Jack Avery himself publicly revealed in a September interview that FBI agents had visited his home to warn him someone was trying to have him killed, though he did not name Gonzalez at the time and even praised her as a mother.
This case illustrates how deeply personal custody conflicts can spiral when public profiles and unresolved grievances collide. What started as a young romance has now produced years of legal tension and, according to prosecutors, escalated into criminal planning that endangered a parent and placed their child in an unimaginable position. High-conflict custody situations are not uncommon in the public eye, as seen in cases like Kim Kardashian’s public co-parenting struggles and Chrisean Rock’s breakup with Blueface, though those matters have not involved criminal plots. The recruitment of family members and friends into the alleged scheme adds layers of complexity to an already fraught situation.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, Gonzalez could face significant prison time, potentially decades behind bars depending on sentencing guidelines and any enhancements for the use of interstate communications or involvement of multiple parties. Her father faces the same potential outcome, though he has not yet been extradited to California. Proceedings will likely include further review of digital evidence, recorded calls, and witness statements as the district attorney’s office builds its case. The well-being of Lavender remains a central concern for the courts as these serious allegations move forward.
The developments serve as a stark example of the need for structured support systems in high-conflict separations, especially those involving minors and individuals in the public eye. Legal experts often point out that while most custody disputes resolve through negotiation or mediation, the rare instances that turn violent underscore the value of early intervention and careful monitoring by authorities.
