A popular TikTok influencer has been arrested in California, and her dad, a lawyer, has been arrested in Florida – both accused of conspiring with each other to pay a hitman $10,000 to kill her ex-boyfriend and the father of her child, all stemming from a years-long custody fight.
TMZ reports that Gabrielle “Gabbie” Gonzalez was arrested last week in Northern California.
Her dad, Francisco Javier Gonzalez, a civil trial lawyer in Central Florida, was arrested on Monday afternoon in Lake Mary on a California warrant for conspiracy to commit murder, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
Both are accused of conspiring to kill Jack Avery, a former member of the boy band, Why Don’t We.
What we know:
According to the arrest warrant, Jack Avery and Gabrielle Gonzalez share a 7-year-old daughter. Both have shared photos of her on their respective social media accounts.
Detectives said in the report that Avery and Gabbie have been involved in a “longstanding custody and visitation” fight – and noted that Gabbie’s dad had become “deeply involved” in the ongoing fight.
According to the report, he allegedly hired a private investigator to conduct surveillance of Avery looking for signs that he was drinking, smoking, or “otherwise acting in a way that could be used against him in the custody dispute.”
He also allegedly threatened to have Avery arrested should he show up for visitation and “attempted to involve a law enforcement contact,” though the report did not elaborate.
Affidavit: The alleged murder-for-hire plot
According to court records, a witness told investigators that Gabbie “repeatedly said she wanted Jack Avery dead and discussed hiring a hitman.” That witness said Gabbie and another person talked about using the “dark web” to find a hit man and would pay them in Bitcoin, funded by her dad, according to the affidavit.
Investigators said financial records show that Gabbie’s dad, Francisco, paid someone $10,000 under the guise of web development services.
TMZ: Jack Avery files for restraining order, full custody
TMZ reported on Tuesday that Jack Avery filed a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend, Gabbie, following news of her arrest, and that he also filed to have sole custody of his daughter.
The Source: FOX 35 obtained the arrest affidavit for Francisco Gonzalez from the Seminole County Clerk of Court. Additional details from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office’s website. Additional reporting from TMZ.