When a plan doesn’t work out, some people try a new approach. TikToker Gabbie Gonzalez apparently decided to go nuclear after her first attempt failed spectacularly.
According to court documents, Gonzalez and her associate Kai Cordrey approached Dustin Barca, a former professional MMA fighter with a 4-0 record, back on March 23, 2021. Their pitch was straightforward enough: threaten, scare, or force her baby daddy Jack Avery to leave Kauai. Barca, it seems, wasn’t interested in becoming part of whatever was unfolding between them.
But rejection didn’t stop the plan—it just changed shape. When Dustin declined to get involved, Gonzalez and Cordrey pivoted to something far more sinister. Over the following weeks, the two allegedly turned to the dark web in search of a hit man to kill Avery. An undercover investigator later got Cordrey to discuss the scheme on the phone in 2021, providing evidence that would eventually lead to charges.
The criminal complaint documents a troubling progression: from attempting to leverage an athlete’s intimidating presence to allegedly hunting for someone willing to commit murder. It’s a stunning escalation that speaks to desperation, obsession, or both. Gonzalez, along with her father Francisco Gonzalez and Cordrey, now faces charges related to the alleged scheme. Dustin Barca, despite being approached, is not charged or accused of any wrongdoing—a stark reminder that at least one person involved said no.
What’s most striking isn’t just the severity of the accusations; it’s the window they open into how some people respond when their initial schemes crumble. Instead of stepping back, they doubled down. And they got caught.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
