A custody battle that spiraled into something far darker has landed TikTok influencer Gabbie Gonzalez and her father, Francisco Gonzalez, in serious legal trouble. The pair have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged plot to murder Jack Avery, the 26-year-old member of boy band Why Don’t We and father of Gabbie’s 7-year-old daughter.
The arrests came swiftly: Gabbie, 24, was taken into custody on Friday, May 15, in Humboldt County, California, facing three criminal charges related to the alleged conspiracy. Just days later, on Tuesday, May 19, her father was arrested on conspiracy to commit murder charges after legal documents revealed a witness’s account of the plot’s details.
What makes this case particularly chilling is the level of planning allegedly involved. According to court filings, Francisco reportedly paid approximately $10,000 to hire someone to kill Avery, with the alleged hit man claiming he received money disguised as web development payments and communicated through encrypted Signal messages. Gabbie allegedly discussed specific methods—including using the dark web and Bitcoin payments—and even talked about making the killing look like a car accident in Los Angeles. These weren’t passing thoughts; they were detailed discussions with someone positioned to carry them out.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office called it a case where defendants“are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder,”noting the FBI initiated the investigation before handing it to the prosecution. The custody dispute that apparently fueled this alleged conspiracy appears to have drawn Francisco into his daughter’s grievances with a level of involvement that prosecutors describe as shocking. One official stated:“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 immediate fallout has centered on protection for Avery and their daughter. After Gabbie’s arrest, the child was placed with a foster family before being reunited with her father. Avery has since filed for a temporary restraining order against Gabbie and is seeking sole legal and physical custody. Court documents suggest the daughter was even told by her mother to blame her father for the arrest—a detail that underscores just how fractured this family situation has become.
This case serves as a stark reminder that online personas and real-world consequences don’t exist in separate worlds. What starts as a bitter custody conflict can escalate into something far more dangerous, and the alleged involvement of a parent takes an already tragic situation into deeply disturbing territory.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
