LA prosecutors charge TikTok influencer, father in murder-for-hire plot

Los Angeles prosecutors charged a Florida attorney, his TikTok influencer daughter and her former boyfriend Tuesday with attempted murder in an alleged plot to kill a pop singer at the center of a bitter custody fight over their young child.

Prosecutors allege the scheme was driven by a financial calculation — that arranging a killing would prove less costly than continuing a contentious custody battle — and was thwarted only when an undercover officer posed as the hired killer, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Gabriela Gonzalez, her father Francisco Gonzalez — a Florida attorney — and former boyfriend Kai Faron Cordrey each face charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The alleged target was Jack Avery, a singer-songwriter and former member of the boy band Why Don't We.

Prosecutors allege Francisco Gonzalez paid $14,000 to a man he believed was a contract killer. His daughter and Cordrey allegedly arranged the scheme, with Cordrey serving as a middleman between the family and the supposed hitman. That individual was in fact an undercover law enforcement officer, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

Avery shares a 7-year-old child with Gabriela Gonzalez, and the two had been locked in a prolonged custody dispute. Prosecutors allege the financial burden of that legal battle motivated the alleged murder plot — that eliminating Avery was viewed as cheaper than continuing to fight in court. Avery has 1.4 million followers on Instagram.

Gabriela Gonzalez, who has nearly 1 million combined followers on TikTok and Instagram, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday afternoon. A judge set her bail at $2 million. Francisco Gonzalez remains in Florida and is expected to be extradited to California to face charges, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

Authorities said the alleged contract killer was never officially identified or hired, as the undercover officer intercepted the arrangement before any transaction was completed, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.