Australian Andre Rebelo sentenced to 25 years for murdering his mother to fund influencer lifestyle

Andre Zachary Rebelo, a 28-year-old Australian cryptocurrency trader, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2020 murder of his mother, Colleen Rebelo. He killed her to claim more than $1.15 million from life insurance policies he had fraudulently obtained in her name just a week before her death. At the time, Rebelo was in a relationship with Instagram model and influencer Gracie Piscopo, with whom he shares a child. The couple portrayed a lavish lifestyle on social media, but in reality, Rebelo was drowning in debt, owing approximately $121,000 from personal loans and credit car

Andre Zachary Rebelo, a 28-year-old Australian cryptocurrency trader, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2020 murder of his mother, Colleen Rebelo. He killed her to claim more than $1.15 million from life insurance policies he had fraudulently obtained in her name just a week before her death. At the time, Rebelo was in a relationship with Instagram model and influencer Gracie Piscopo, with whom he shares a child. The couple portrayed a lavish lifestyle on social media, but in reality, Rebelo was drowning in debt, owing approximately $121,000 from personal loans and credit cards used to sustain their facade. In May 2020, Colleen Rebelo was found dead in the shower of her Bicton home. Initially, her death was not considered suspicious, and no cause of death was determined. However, suspicions arose when insurance companies flagged concerns over the life insurance claims Rebelo filed shortly after her passing. Investigators later uncovered forged documents, including his mother's will and medical records, which he used to expedite the claims process.

Andre Rebelo was in a relationship with social media influencer Gracie Piscopo.

During the trial, it was revealed that Rebelo had not profited from cryptocurrency trading in three years and falsely claimed he was expecting a $500,000 windfall. Justice Bruno Fiannaca described his actions as a "monstrous act" and the "ultimate betrayal," emphasizing the gravity of murdering one's own mother for financial gain. Source: ABC