Influencer Accused of Plotting Murder Over Custody Dispute

When a custody battle turns criminal, the details that emerge can be shocking. At a Thursday arraignment, prosecutors laid out allegations against influencer Gabbie Gonzalez, her father Francisco, and her boyfriend Kai Cordrey that read like a dark thriller—not a real-world criminal case. The claim? The three allegedly wanted proof that Jack Avery was dead in the form of his pinky finger.

The backstory matters here. Gabbie and Jack Avery were locked in a custody dispute over their daughter Lavender. According to prosecutors, that conflict didn’t stay in family court. Instead, authorities say Gabbie reached out to ex-MMA fighter Dustin Barca asking him to threaten or scare Avery. When that apparently didn’t get results, prosecutors allege she and her father Francisco turned to the dark web, trying to find a hit man with help from her ex-boyfriend Kai Cordrey.

But it wasn’t just the alleged murder plot that shocked the courtroom. The prosecutors’claim about wanting physical proof—specifically Avery’s pinky finger—suggests this wasn’t some vague threat or idle talk. This was allegedly something they’d discussed and were trying to arrange, which prosecutors say indicates a level of seriousness and premeditation that goes beyond typical criminal conspiracy language.

Gabbie has maintained her innocence through her mother Lisa, who spoke to media after the court appearance. Meanwhile, a judge set conditions if she posts her $2 million bond: GPS monitoring, a surrendered passport, and a prohibition on posting about the case on social media. She’s also barred from contacting Avery or Lavender under a protective order. Perhaps most telling, prosecutors asked the judge to prevent any family member from contacting Lavender, arguing that contact would be used to exert control over the child.

The case won’t move quickly. Gabbie waived her plea until July 23, meaning the legal process is just beginning. What unfolds in the coming months will likely involve testimony about whether these allegations hold up, whether she actually found anyone willing to carry out such a plan, and what role her family members played. For now, what started as a custody dispute has transformed into one of those rare cases where the criminal allegations seem almost too dark to be real—yet here we are.