What did Jack Avery say at his custody hearing against Gabby Gonzalez?

Jack Avery, a 27-year-old former member of the boy band Why Don't We, testified that the FBI told him in 2021 that he was the target of a hired hitman. He said it left him with severe anxiety and a panic disorder, and that he feared an attempt on his life every time he visited his daughter. The judge granted Avery a five-year restraining order and sole physical custody of the seven-year-old.

Gonzalez's lawyer told the judge she had decided not to testify.
Former boyfriend Cody Claiborne testified that Gonzalez told him Kai Corddry was obsessed with her and wanted to help her get rid of Avery.

▸In their words

“I'm overwhelmed and happy at the same time.” Jack Avery · at 22:29 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Dateline NBC (2026-10-29). Read the whole episode summary →

▸More from this episode

Q1What was the verdict in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial in Chapel Hill?Q2What evidence linked Miguel Salguero Olivares to Faith Hedgepeth's murder?Q3What motive did prosecutors suggest for the killing of Faith Hedgepeth?Q4What is TikTok influencer Gabby Gonzalez accused of in the alleged plot against Jack Avery?Q6What did Jason Pickard testify at Matthew Farwell's trial over Sandra Birchmore's death?Q7What sentence did the Alexander brothers get for sex trafficking?Q8How reliable is handwriting analysis in court, according to examiner John Osborne?

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