Gabbie Gonzalez hasn't publicly commented, but those close to her suggest the legal troubles stem from a messy custody situation gone sideways rather than any genuine intent to harm Jack Avery.
Insiders say Gabbie and Jack's relationship imploded spectacularly, with sources claiming he was already off the island when these alleged schemes went down. The real mystery: who flipped on Kai Cordrey to trigger that undercover investigator call?
The felony complaint targets Gabbie Gonzalez, her father Francisco Gonzalez, and Kai Cordrey for an alleged murder-for-hire plot originating March 23, 2021. Dustin Barca—a former pro fighter with a documented 4-0 record—was approached but took no action and faces zero charges.
This one writes itself: don't hire muscle to handle custody disputes, kids. The MMA angle is almost comedic if the stakes weren't so terrifying for Jack Avery.
In a saga that sounds more like a Netflix limited series than real life, TikToker Gabbie Gonzalez allegedly went full criminal mastermind when it came to dealing with her baby daddy, pop star Jack Avery of Why Don't We fame. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Gabbie first tried recruiting professional violence before pivoting to the dark web in search of something far more sinister. The timeline kicks off on March 23, 2021, when Gabbie and her co-conspirator Kai Cordrey—who is also charged in the case—approached Dustin Barca, a former MMA fighter with an impressive 4-0 professional record.
The pair reportedly tried to convince Dustin to threaten, scare, or otherwise force Jack Avery off the island of Kauai, where the pop star apparently resides. Whether they offered money, favors, or just emotional appeals about Gabbie's side of the story remains unclear from the criminal complaint. Dustin Barca, for his part, appears to have exercised better judgment than everyone else involved in this mess.
He didn't bite on the proposal, which sent Gabbie and Kai spiraling toward darker options. In the weeks following Dustin's apparent refusal, the duo allegedly took their search for Jack's removal to the dark web, hunting for a hit man willing to do the unthinkable. Enter the undercover investigator who would ultimately unravel this whole scheme.
According to the felony complaint, law enforcement got Kai Cordrey to discuss the murder-for-hire plan over the phone in 2021—a recorded conversation that provided the evidentiary foundation for the charges now filed against three people. Gabbie Gonzalez, her father Francisco Gonzalez, and Kai Cordrey all face legal consequences for their alleged roles in plotting to kill Jack Avery. Here's where it gets genuinely wild: Dustin Barca isn't charged with anything.
The man who was literally asked to threaten another human being walked away clean because he apparently said no. Meanwhile, Gabbie's father is caught up in this mess despite seemingly playing no role in approaching the MMA fighter or searching the dark web—unless prosecutors know something the public doesn't about his involvement. Jack Avery, for context, rose to fame as a member of Why Don't We, the boy band that emerged from YouTube roots and briefly dominated teen pop circles.
His relationship with Gabbie produced at least one child together, which makes this alleged murder plot against him all the more jarring. Two people who share parenting responsibilities allegedly tried to hire someone to kill him. The case raises uncomfortable questions about what happens when influencer drama meets actual criminal behavior.
Gabbie Gonzalez built a following—albeit a modest one—on platforms like TikTok, and now she's facing serious felony charges that could result in decades of prison time if convicted. Kai Cordrey finds himself in similar straits, having apparently talked too freely to someone who turned out to be working for the authorities. No formal defense statements have emerged as of publication, but legal observers note that proving intent will be crucial for prosecutors. Simply asking around about hit men doesn't automatically constitute conspiracy—though allegedly discussing plans with an undercover operative certainly helps build a case.
