Influencer Gabbie Gonzalez and her father were arrested earlier this week for allegedly plotting to kill her ex-boyfriend, with whom she shares a child, according to authorities
Credit: Gabbie Gonzalez/Instagram; Jack Avery/ Instagram; Seminole County Jail
NEED TO KNOW
- Singer Jack Avery is speaking out about his ex-girlfriend’s alleged plans to have him killed
- Influencer Gabbie Gonzalez allegedly plotted to murder Avery, the father of her daughter, with the help of her dad, Francisco Gonzalez
- The alleged scheme stemmed from a longstanding custody battle between Gonzalez and Avery, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE
Boy band singer Jack Avery has spoken out about influencer Gabbie Gonzalez and her father’s alleged plot to murder him in a staged car crash.
On Monday, May 18, social media influencer Gabriela Gonzalez, 24, and her father, Francisco Javier Gonzalez, 59, were arrested in connection with the alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting Avery, her ex-boyfriend with whom she shares a child, authorities said.
The alleged plot followed a longstanding custody and visitation dispute between Gabriela and the Why Don't We singer involving their now-7-year-old daughter, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
In a lengthy post on Instagram on Thursday, May 21, Avery wrote, “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."
“For years,” Avery continued, “my family and I have endured intense public scrutiny, false accusations, and deeply painful attacks on our character and reputation. Throughout that time, I chose to remain silent out of respect for the legal process and, most importantly, for my daughter.”
His focus right now, he wrote, “is on being the best father I can be.”
Sharing that he is "thankful” to have sole custody of his daughter, Lavender, “who is safe, healthy and deeply loved,” he said he is looking forward to “continuing to build a peaceful and stable life for her.”
In the post, he also thanked his family, friends, law enforcement and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for their support during this process.
“And finally, to everyone who has supported me and withheld judgment while the truth unfolded, thank you," he added. “Always seek the truth."
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Gonzalez is being held without bail after being booked by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, according to inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE.
Her father was arrested Monday in Seminole County, Fla., on an out-of-state fugitive warrant tied to the California charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder, according to the affidavit.
He waived extradition at his first appearance in a Florida courtroom on Tuesday, May 19, court records show.
It is unclear if Gabbie or Francisco have retained attorneys who can speak on their behalf.
Investigators allege, per the affidavit, that her father became “deeply involved” in the custody conflict and in efforts to “discredit, monitor, and remove Avery from [their daughter]'s life.”
Witnesses described Francisco as “hostile” toward Avery and “heavily invested” in the custody battle, according to the affidavit. One witness allegedly told investigators Francisco said words “to the effect that it would be cheaper if Avery were dead,” while another described the Gonzalez family as “obsessed” with obtaining full custody and excluding Avery from their daughter's life.
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The affidavit further alleges Francisco worked with a private investigator and tracked and photographed Avery in Kauai, Hawaii, where the singer lives, to gather potentially damaging evidence that could be used against him in the custody fight.
In a family-group communication in March 2021, Francisco allegedly said it was "never too early" to contact a man Gabriela allegedly sought to recruit or threaten Avery, per the affidavit.
Witnesses told investigators Gabriela repeatedly expressed that she wanted Avery dead and discussed arranging for a hitman to kill him, the affidavit further alleges.
According to the filing, Gabriela and alleged co-conspirator Kai Cordrey, her boyfriend at the time, allegedly discussed using the dark web and Bitcoin to carry out the murder-for-hire plot and spoke about staging Avery’s death to look like a car accident in Los Angeles.
Investigators alleged Francisco was the funding source behind the alleged scheme.
Another witness allegedly told investigators that Gabriela claimed Cordrey had been paid to kill Avery and that Francisco allegedly paid approximately $10,000 for the hit.
According to the affidavit, Francisco later sent Cordrey money disguised as payments for web-development services, though Cordrey allegedly admitted no such work was ever performed.
The affidavit also alleges Francisco later spoke directly with an undercover federal agent posing as a hitman online.
Avery revealed in a September 2025 interview on the Zac Sang Show podcast that FBI agents had warned him someone was allegedly trying to kill him, though he did not publicly identify any suspects at that time.
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