Andre Rebelo Jailed for Killing Mother and Trying to Claim Insurance Payout
Andre Rebelo, 29, was sentenced to at least 25 years in prison for the premeditated murder of his 58-year-old mother, Colleen Rebelo, in 2020. The crime, which was driven by his desperate need to maintain a lavish lifestyle with his influencer wife, Gracie Piscopo, included a scheme to collect over $1 million from life insurance policies he took out in his mother’s name.
The Murder and Aftermath
The murder occurred at Colleen’s Bicton home, where her body was found by her youngest son, Fabian, in May 2020. Initially, her death wasn’t considered suspicious, and the cause of death wasn’t clear. However, Rebelo’s actions in the days following her death raised red flags. He attempted to claim on the life insurance policies just three days after her passing, prompting an insurance employee to report him to the police.
Financial Struggles and Fraudulent Scheme
Andre Rebelo and Piscopo had over $100,000 in debt despite their outwardly glamorous social media presence. He had taken out three life insurance policies on his mother, naming himself as the sole beneficiary, and stood to inherit more than $1 million from her death.
During the trial, prosecutors revealed that Rebelo’s motivations were rooted in his desire to impress Piscopo, who was expecting financial success from his cryptocurrency ventures, which never materialized. Instead of being upfront about his financial struggles, Rebelo plotted his mother’s death as a way to maintain his “perfect” lifestyle.
Sentencing and Impact on Family
Justice Bruno Fiannaca, who sentenced Rebelo, described the crime as “monstrous” and noted the lasting impact on Rebelo’s family. “The persona you created alongside Ms Piscopo was more important to you than your familial connection to your mother,” the judge said. He also remarked that the crime would permanently affect Rebelo’s young son, who would grow up knowing his father as a prisoner.
Andre Rebelo admitted to forging his mother’s will and other documents, including a coroner’s report, but denied the murder. The judge criticized his actions as part of a fraudulent scheme. Rebelo will serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole.
Outside court, his father, Antonio Rebelo, expressed continued support for his son, despite the horrific nature of the crime. “We don’t really know what happened to his mother, and we still don’t know what happened,” he said.
