Ex-girlfriend, two others charged over alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting former member of US boy band Why Don’t We

LOS ANGELES, May 28 — A US social media influencer who shares a daughter with former Why Don’t We member Jack Avery has been charged in Los Angeles over an alleged plot to hire a hitman to kill him during a custody dispute.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Gabriela Lauren Gonzalez, 24, her father Francisco Gonzalez, 59, and her then-boyfriend Kai Faron Cordrey, 26, were charged on May 19 with one count each of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder.

Avery was a member of Why Don’t We, a US boy band formed in 2016 that later disbanded in 2022.

Prosecutors alleged that the three defendants tried to arrange Avery’s killing through a hitman on the dark web as part of a dispute over the former couple’s seven-year-old daughter.

“This is a case where the defendants are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement posted on the district attorney’s office website recently.

Prosecutors said Gabriela allegedly sought Cordrey’s help between 2020 and 2021 to hire someone to kill Avery.

Her father allegedly sent Cordrey US$10,000 (RM39,780) in April 2021 as upfront payment to find and pay someone to kill Avery.

Francisco allegedly sent another US$4,000 two months later after the alleged hitman asked for more funds.

Prosecutors said Cordrey later spoke to an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman in September 2021, allegedly identifying Avery as the target and discussing payment and proof of death.

In a later conversation, Cordrey also allegedly told the undercover officer that Gabriela wanted the killing to happen and that Francisco could pay for it.

The case was investigated by the FBI before being turned over to the district attorney’s office, prosecutors said.

According to US-based news outlet ABC News, a judge set Gabriela’s bail at US$2 million during her arraignment, after which she posted bond and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor.

ABC News said her next court appearance is scheduled for July 23.

The outlet also reported that Francisco was arrested in Florida and was awaiting extradition to Los Angeles County.

Cordrey was also reportedly arrested, with bail set at US$2 million.

All three defendants face 25 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the district attorney’s office.

Avery thanked law enforcement and prosecutors in an Instagram statement, saying his focus remained on “being the best father I can be.”

المصدر: Malay Mail