Los Angeles prosecutors have charged a social media influencer, her father, and her former boyfriend in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Jack Avery, a former member of the boy band Why Don’t We. The case, investigated by the FBI and turned over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, dates back to 2020 and centers on a custody battle over the couple’s 7-year-old daughter.
Gabriela Lauren Gonzalez, 26, known for her lifestyle and travel content on TikTok, allegedly sought help from her then-boyfriend, Kai Faron Cordrey, to find a hitman on the dark web to kill Avery between 2020 and 2021. Court documents reveal that Gonzalez’s father, Francisco Gonzalez, may have been the driving force behind the scheme, with a witness reportedly overhearing him say that “it would be cheaper if Avery were dead.”
In April 2021, Francisco Gonzalez allegedly wired $10,000 to Cordrey as front money to hire a hitman. Two months later, Cordrey reportedly requested an additional $4,000 after an alleged hitman demanded more funds. The plot unraveled in September 2021 when Cordrey told an undercover federal agent posing as a hitman that Avery was the target and needed to be killed within days, discussing payment and proof of death.
“In a subsequent conversation, Cordrey allegedly told the purported hitman that Gabriela Gonzalez wanted the murder to happen and Francisco Gonzalez could pay for the expense,” investigators with the L.A. DA’s Office said. The trio faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder. If convicted, they could face 25 years to life in state prison.
Gonzalez was arrested last week in Humboldt County, while her father remains in Florida awaiting extradition to Los Angeles. It is unclear if Cordrey has been taken into custody. The case highlights the dark intersection of social media fame and criminal desperation, echoing broader concerns about online safety and exploitation. For context, the Bipartisan GAME Act recently targeted gambling ads aimed at minors on social media, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of digital platforms.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman condemned the alleged plot, stating, “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. 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 also comes amid growing distrust in mainstream media and the rise of citizen journalism, as noted in a recent analysis of distrust in mainstream media fueling alternative news sources. The outcome of this trial could have implications for how influencers and their families are held accountable in high-stakes legal matters.
