Influencer Hires Hit Man Amid Heated Custody Battle with Ex | Crime Alert 05.21.26

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Episode: Influencer Hires Hit Man Amid Heated Custody Battle with Ex | Crime Alert 05.21.26 (May 21, 2026)

This episode delivers a high-impact update on two harrowing crime stories:

1. A high-profile murder-for-hire plot involving TikTok influencer Gabriella "Gabby" Lauren Gonzalez amid a heated custody battle with pop singer Jack Avery.
2. A gut-wrenching case of fatal child abuse in Aurora, Colorado.

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Story One: Influencer’s Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy

Begins at [00:40]

Key Discussion Points

• Suspects & Victim: Gabriella "Gabby" Lauren Gonzalez (TikTok influencer, 25), her father Francisco Gonzalez, and boyfriend Kai Cordray are accused of plotting to murder Gabby's ex-boyfriend, Jack Avery (former member of boy band Why Don’t We), amid a bitter custody battle over their 7-year-old daughter.

• Escalation of Custody Dispute:

  • Francisco Gonzalez became heavily involved in the custody case, hiring a private investigator to gather damaging info about Avery.
  • According to prosecutors, Francisco also tried to manipulate law enforcement against Avery, threatened false arrests, and interfered with scheduled visitations.
  • "The hostility reached a boiling point... Francisco reportedly hired a private investigator to track Avery’s movements, looking specifically for evidence... to be leveraged against the singer in court." (Crime Reporter, [01:12])

• Conspiracy Unfolds:

  • Gabby solicits her boyfriend Kai Cordray to find a hitman, seeking to finance the hit via the Dark Web.
  • Francisco delivers $10,000 to Cordray, allegedly as “web development fees,” with later demands for another $4,000.
  • Cordray unknowingly communicates with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman. Cordray details the plot, names Avery as the target, discusses payment and proof-of-death, and implicates Gabby and Francisco.
    • "Cordray later demanded an additional $4,000 from Francisco to advance the plot." (Crime Reporter, [01:50])
    • "Cordray explicitly told the undercover agent that Gabrielle Gonzalez ordered the hit and that her father would cover the expenses." (Crime Reporter, [02:20])

• Aftermath & Legal Developments:

  • Following the arrest, Jack Avery files an emergency restraining order and petitions for sole custody of their daughter.
  • Francisco Gonzalez is arrested in Florida on a Los Angeles County warrant; he intends to waive extradition.
  • All three conspirators face possible sentences of 25 years to life if convicted.
    • "If convicted, Gonzalez, her father and her boyfriend face 25 years to life in state prison." (Crime Reporter, [03:23])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Quote:

  • "[Francisco] reportedly hired a private investigator to track Avery’s movements... even attempted to manipulate a law enforcement contact to intervene." (Crime Reporter, [01:20])

• Quote:

  • "The situation took a sinister turn when Gonzalez allegedly turned to her then boyfriend Kai Cordray to procure a professional killer." (Crime Reporter, [01:39])

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Story Two: Fatal Child Abuse in Aurora, Colorado

Begins at [04:08]

Key Discussion Points

• Incident Details:

  • Alexander Martinez Armstrong (24), godfather but not biological parent, is arrested for the murder of a 4-year-old boy.
  • Responders find the boy unresponsive, covered in bruises at various stages of healing.
  • "Paramedics noted that the boy’s entire body from head to toe was covered in severe bruising at various stages of healing." (Crime Reporter, [04:40])

• Nature of Abuse:

  • Suspect claims the boy was being punished for "being disruptive, bad, and failing to listen."
  • Armstrong alleges the child’s mother approved physical punishment and admits to multiple forms of punishment:
    • Forced exercise (push-ups, planks, wall sits)
    • 21 belt strikes in a single day
    • "He claimed he aimed for the boy’s buttocks, but because the child was moving... the belt struck other areas of his body." ([05:17])
  • The suspect insists he didn’t swing the belt with full intensity and that facial bruising came from exercise-induced collapse.

• Mother’s Contradiction:

  • The mother denies ever inflicting injuries or giving anyone permission to do so, stating, "She had absolutely no knowledge that Martinez Armstrong would physically abuse the boy." ([06:12])

• Ongoing Investigation:

  • An autopsy is pending to determine cause of death.
  • Armstrong faces first-degree murder charges.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Quote:

  • "Martinez Armstrong admitted to investigators that on Saturday alone he struck the four year old with a belt 21 times." ([05:14])

• Quote:

  • "The child’s biological mother... stated she had absolutely no knowledge that Martinez Armstrong would physically abuse the boy." ([06:12])

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Important Timestamps

• [00:40] — Start of murder-for-hire plot coverage
• [01:39] — Escalation to the Dark Web and hitman solicitation
• [03:23] — Legal fallout for Gonzalez family
• [04:08] — Start of child abuse case in Aurora, Colorado
• [04:40] — Details on victim’s injuries and first responder account
• [05:14] — Martinez Armstrong describes physical punishment
• [06:12] — Mother’s denial and contradictions

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Episode Tone & Style

The reporting is detailed, fast-paced, and unflinching—matching Nancy Grace’s reputation for incisive, no-nonsense coverage. The stories are relayed in a factual manner but highlight the emotional and social stakes involved, especially in family and child-centered crimes.

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Summary

This episode of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace exposes the tragic lengths to which custody disputes and abusive caretaking can go, drawing listeners into the chilling realities behind sensational headlines. The episode remains an unfiltered, fact-heavy dispatch intended both to inform and provoke discussion about the legal, ethical, and social consequences in today's most disturbing crime stories.

Transcript

[Sydney Silvani]

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[Sydney Silvani]

shortened and simulated Crime Alert Hourly Update Breaking Crime news Now I'm Sydney Silvani.

[Crime Reporter]

A shocking murder for hire plot involving a popular social media influencer, her family and a dark web conspiracy has come to light. Targeting a well known pop singer, Authorities have arrested TikTok influencer Gabriella Gabby Lauren Gonzalez, 25, along with her father Francisco Gonzalez and her boyfriend Kai Cordray for allegedly conspiring to hire a hitman to assassinate Gonzalez's ex boyfriend Jack Avery. Avery is a former member of the popular boy band why don't we and shares a seven year old daughter with Gonzalez. According to police reports, the underlying motive stems from a bitter, long standing custody and visitation battle over their young child. The arrest warrant reveals that Gonzalez father Francisco Gonzalez, became deeply embedded in the ongoing custody dispute. Prosecutors allege that between 2020 and 2021 the hostility reached a boiling point. Francisco reportedly hired a private investigator to track Avery's movements, looking specifically for evidence of smoking, drinking or any behavioral issues that could be leveraged against the singer in court. The father also allegedly threatened to have Avery arrested if he showed up for scheduled visitations and even attempted to manipulate a law enforcement contact to intervene. But the situation took a sinister turn when Gonzalez allegedly turned to her then boyfriend Kai Cordray to procure a professional killer. A news release from officials states that Gonzalez wanted Avery dead and asked Cordray to find a hitman, using the Dark Web to finance the execution. Francisco Gonzalez reportedly paid Cordray $10,000 under the fraudulent guise of web development fees. Cordray later demanded an additional $4,000 from Francisco to advance the plot. Unbeknownst to the co conspirators, their digital trail led them straight to law enforcement. In September of 2021, Cordray began communicating with an undercover law enforcement agent who was posing as an operational hitman. Investigators state that Cordray openly detailed the murder plot, identified Jack Avery as the target, discussed payment arrangements, and negotiated proof of death. In subsequent recordings, Cordray explicitly told the undercover agent that Gabrielle Gonzalez ordered the hit and that her father would cover the expenses. The legal fallout from this disrupted plot is moving rapidly. TMZ reports that following the news of Gonzalez's arrest. Avery immediately filed an emergency restraining order against his ex girlfriend and has petitioned the court for sole custody of their daughter. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles county warrant issued on May 12 led to the arrest of Francisco Gonzalez in Seminole County, Florida. During his initial court appearance, his defense team indicated that Gonzalez plans to waive extradition to California to face these severe charges. If convicted, Gonzalez, her father and her boyfriend face 25 years to life in state prison. More crime and justice news after this

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[Crime Reporter]

Sequences shortened and simulated A horrifying case of fatal child abuse has shaken the community of Aurora, Colorado, where a young boy's life was tragically cut short. The Aurora Police Department confirmed the arrest of 24 year old Alexander Martinez Armstrong, who is now facing first degree murder charges. The investigation began late Saturday night around 10pm when emergency personnel responded to an urgent call at an apartment complex along along East Tennessee Avenue. First responders arrived to find a four year old boy unresponsive and not breathing. Paramedics with a roar of fire Rescue desperately attempted life saving measures on the toddler who was in cardiac arrest. According to an arrest affidavit, the child suffered from extensive horrific injuries. Paramedics noted that the boy's entire body from head to toe was covered in severe bruising at various stages of healing. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries that same evening. Investigators revealed that Martinez Armstrong is not the biological father of the boy, but serves as his godfather. When paramedics first entered the apartment, they observed Martinez Armstrong standing directly over the unresponsive child. An examination of the victim's body revealed distinct elongated bruising marks, which investigators noted were highly consistent with being whipped by objects like belts or cords. When questioned by Aurora detectives, Martinez Armstrong provided a deeply disturbing account of the days leading up to the boy's death. He stated that he had picked up his godson from the biological mother four days prior so the boy could complete schoolwork. The suspect claimed the child was placed on punishment for being disruptive, bad and failing to listen to his family. Martinez Armstrong asserted that the biological mother gave him explicit permission to discipline the boy using physical methods which he claimed he had previously witnessed her perform. The affidavit details that this alleged discipline involved open palm spankings for forced push ups, planks, wall sits and severe belt whippings. Martinez Armstrong admitted to investigators that on Saturday alone He struck the four year old with a belt 21 times. He claimed he aimed for the boy's buttocks, but because the child was moving to escape the blows, the belt struck other areas of his body. The suspect insisted he did not swing with full intensity and claimed that additional bruising on the child's face occurred when the boy collapsed while being forced to do push ups. He told police that when the boy complained of exhaustion, he put him on a couch with a blanket, discovering he was completely unresponsive. Hours later. However, the child's biological mother strongly contradicted the suspect's claims. She told police that while she disciplined her son, she never inflicted injuries or left marks and stated she had absolutely no knowledge that Martinez Armstrong would physically abuse the boy. The Arapaho County Coroner's Office is currently conducting an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death for the latest crime and justice breaking news. Be sure to tune in tomorrow on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert.

[Mazda CX5 Advertiser]

I'm Sydney Silvani introducing the all new Mazda CX5 featuring more connection hey Google, where's the nearest Pilates class safety that has your back? More discovery on the scenic routes, more passion in the details and more control in changing weather. The all new Mazda CX5 more to move every side of you. See it in five films at mazdausa.com fivesides Google is a trademark of Google LLC.

[Crime Reporter]

Sequences shortened and simulated your family's safety

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