A TikTok influencer and her father have been arrested in Los Angeles on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, with prosecutors alleging they orchestrated an elaborate plot to kill the woman's ex-boyfriend and the father of her child.
Gabbie Gonzalez, 24, and her father Francisco Gonzalez were taken into custody following an investigation that began with the Federal Bureau of Investigation before being transferred to local authorities. Legal documents filed with the Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday, May 19, detail allegations that Francisco paid approximately $10,000 to arrange the killing of Jack Avery, 26, a member of the boy band Why Don't We and father to Gabbie Gonzalez's 7-year-old daughter.
Francisco Gonzalez was arrested on Tuesday morning, following the Friday, May 15, arrest of his daughter in California's Humboldt County. Gabbie Gonzalez faces three criminal charges as part of the alleged conspiracy.
Custody Battle Turned Deadly
Court filings paint a disturbing picture of how a contentious custody dispute allegedly escalated into a murder-for-hire scheme. According to the documents, Avery has been engaged in longstanding custody and visitation litigation with Gabbie Gonzalez. The investigation revealed that Francisco Gonzalez became deeply involved in the custody conflict and in efforts to discredit, monitor, and remove Avery from his granddaughter's life.
A witness came forward with critical information, alleging that Gabbie Gonzalez confided that a man had been paid to kill Avery and that her father had provided approximately $10,000 for the hit. The witness further alleged that Gabbie Gonzalez repeatedly expressed a desire for Avery's death and discussed hiring a hitman on multiple occasions.
According to the filing, discussions between Gabbie Gonzalez and the alleged hit man included using the dark web and paying in Bitcoin. The intended killing was discussed as occurring in Los Angeles and being made to look like a car accident, prosecutors allege.
Encrypted Communications and False Payments
The alleged hit man was interviewed by police and provided details about his interactions with Francisco Gonzalez. He claimed that Francisco sent him money under the guise of web development payments and that there had been no actual web development work performed. The alleged communications occurred through encrypted Signal messages and calls, according to court documents.
This level of operational security suggests a calculated approach to concealing the alleged conspiracy. The use of encrypted messaging platforms and false payment descriptions demonstrates an awareness of law enforcement detection methods, prosecutors would likely argue.
Father Seeks Custody and Protection
In the wake of these arrests, Jack Avery filed a temporary restraining order against Gabbie Gonzalez on Tuesday. He is seeking sole legal and physical custody of their daughter, who was placed with a foster family following her mother's arrest on Friday.
After being reunited with his child, Avery learned that his daughter made comments blaming him for his mother's arrest. Court documents indicate that Gabbie Gonzalez had allegedly been speaking negatively about Avery in front of their child, a concerning detail that underscores the toxic environment surrounding the custody dispute.
District Attorney's Statement
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office issued a press release on Tuesday addressing the severity of the charges. The statement emphasized the extensive nature of the investigation and the disturbing role allegedly played by Francisco Gonzalez.
"This was a lengthy investigation that was initiated by the FBI and eventually turned over to our office, resulting in criminal charges being filed today," the press release stated. "This is a case where the defendants are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder. 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."
The case represents a troubling intersection of social media influence, family conflict, and alleged criminal conspiracy. As the legal proceedings move forward, both defendants face serious charges that could result in substantial prison sentences if convicted. The Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation continue their work on the case.
