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A California court heard not guilty pleas from TikTok influencer Gabbie Gonzalez and two co-defendants on Monday as prosecutors allege they conspired to hire a contract killer to murder Why Don’t We band member Jack Avery. The scheme reportedly stemmed from an ongoing custody dispute involving Gonzalez’s seven-year-old daughter with the singer. Gonzalez, her father Francisco Gonzalez, and surf instructor Kai Faron Cordrey each face three felony charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder.
According to prosecutors, the alleged plot unfolded between October 2020 and September 2021, involving discussions about cryptocurrency payments and dark web communications. Court documents indicate Francisco Gonzalez reportedly transferred $10,000 to Cordrey in April 2021, which was allegedly moved into a cryptocurrency account to fund the scheme. Authorities claim Cordrey subsequently contacted dark web murder-for-hire services using the alias “LizardKing69,” eventually communicating with an undercover FBI agent posing as an assassin.
Gonzalez’s attorney disputed the accusations, arguing his client played only a limited role and that much of the evidence against her comes from her co-defendant’s statements. The defense team stated prosecutors lack direct evidence connecting Gonzalez to critical aspects of the alleged scheme, including hiring the hit man or transmitting funds. The defendants appeared in court out of custody under varying conditions, with the next hearing scheduled for November 18.
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Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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