Prosecutors have charged the former girlfriend of a member of the boy band Why Don't We with attempting to hire a hitman on the dark web to kill him, allegedly as part of a custody dispute over their now 7-year-old daughter.
Gabriela Gonzalez, a 24-year-old with a substantial social media following, was charged on Tuesday with one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder in connection with the alleged plot to kill Jack Avery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Gonzalez's father, Francisco Gonzalez, 59, and her then-boyfriend, Kai Cordrey, 26, face the same charges.
“This is a case where the defendants are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated in a news release. He noted that the charges stemmed from a lengthy investigation initiated by the FBI and later turned over to his office.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, Avery expressed gratitude to prosecutors and law enforcement for their support, stating that his focus remains on “being the best father I can be.”
Prosecutors allege that Gonzalez sought Cordrey's assistance to hire someone to kill Avery between 2020 and 2021. In April 2021, her father purportedly sent Cordrey $10,000 as front money for the plot. Two months later, Cordrey allegedly requested and received an additional $4,000 from Francisco Gonzalez after the purported hitman demanded more funds.
In September 2021, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman communicated with Cordrey about the murder-for-hire scheme. Cordrey is accused of informing the officer that Avery was the target and discussing payment and proof of death, prosecutors said.
Gabriela Gonzalez, who boasts over 450,000 followers on Instagram, was being held in a Los Angeles-area detention facility on $2 million bond as of Thursday. Her attorney, Elliot Zarabi, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Francisco Gonzalez was arrested in Florida and is awaiting extradition. He was being held in a jail in Seminole County, Florida, on Thursday. It remains unclear if he has retained legal counsel regarding the charges.
Los Angeles County jail records indicate that Cordrey was arrested on Thursday. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.
If convicted, all three defendants face up to life in prison.
The boy band Why Don't We released their debut album in 2018, featuring the hit song “8 Letters,” followed by a sophomore album three years later. The group has since disbanded, and Avery released the single “XOXOX” independently this year.
