Crypto Trader Found Guilty of Killing Mother to Claim $1.2M Life Insurance

Andre Zachary Rebelo, a 28-year-old Australian crypto trader, has been found guilty of killing his mother, Colleen Rebelo, to claim over $1.2 million in life insurance payouts. The crime took place in May 2020 when Colleen, 58, was found dead in the shower of her Perth home. Initially, her death was considered non-suspicious, with an autopsy failing to determine the cause. However, suspicions arose when it was revealed that Zachary had taken out three life insurance policies on his mother just days before her death, naming himself as the sole beneficiary.

Zachary and his ex-partner, Grace Piscopo, an Instagram influencer, appeared to be living a luxurious life, posting about extravagant holidays and flashy cars on social media. However, behind the facade, the couple had significant debts, including over $120,000 in liabilities.

Following his mother’s death, Zachary aggressively pursued the insurance claims, submitting forged documents, fake medical records, and even using an AI voice generator to impersonate his mother’s psychologist in an attempt to deceive insurers. The fraud was eventually uncovered after a suspicious employee alerted authorities, prompting an investigation.

Zachary was arrested two years later, after police connected his fraudulent claims to his mother’s death. During his trial, he admitted to committing fraud but denied the murder. His family testified that they were unaware of the insurance policies, and his father maintained his innocence. Prosecutors argued that Zachary’s dire financial situation, which included significant debts, motivated him to kill his mother to fund his lavish lifestyle.

Zachary’s girlfriend also testified, revealing that he had lied about his whereabouts on the morning of his mother’s death, which further undermined his defense.

After being found guilty of fraud and murder, Zachary was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on April 4, 2025.