Woman Charged With Attempted Murder in Alleged Plot to Kill Boy Band Member

A 24-year-old woman with a large social media following has been charged with attempting to hire a hitman on the dark web to kill a former member of the boy band Why Don't We, prosecutors said. Gabriela Gonzalez was charged Tuesday with one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

Prosecutors said the alleged plot was part of a custody dispute over Gonzalez's now seven-year-old daughter with Jack Avery.

Prosecutors say Gonzalez sought help from her then-boyfriend Kai Cordrey to hire someone to kill Avery between 2020 and 2021. In April 2021, her father Francisco Gonzalez allegedly sent Cordrey $10,000 as front money for the plot. Two months later, Cordrey allegedly requested and received an additional $4,000 from Francisco Gonzalez after the supposed hitman asked for more money.

In September 2021, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman spoke with Cordrey about the murder-for-hire scheme. Cordrey is accused of telling the undercover officer that Avery was the target and discussing payment and proof of death.

Gonzalez was being held Thursday in a Los Angeles-area detention facility on $2 million bond. Her attorney did not immediately return a call for comment. Francisco Gonzalez, 59, was arrested in Florida and is awaiting extradition while held in a Seminole County jail.

Cordrey, 26, was arrested Thursday in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the charges resulted from a lengthy investigation that began with the FBI and was later turned over to his office. If convicted, all three defendants face up to life in prison.

Avery thanked prosecutors and law enforcement in an Instagram post Thursday and said his focus is on being the best father he can be.